■ 


lunuiMiriiiiiiinniiH'ilii 


STEPHEN  Bo  WEEKS 

CLASS  0FI886;PKD.  THE  JOHNS  HOPKINS  UNIVERSITY 

OF  THE 

UMVERsinnf  OF  N®im  cawdijna 

ME  WEEKS  COJLILECTKDN 

OF 

CMOUMAM 


3L 


3 


^ 


u 


^7!% 


^:^w. 


iL 


.-^rp  Z^ 


m^^ 


m-^^t 


'X<r 


v^^lS^^^'^Sf^lf 


This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped 
below  unless  recalled  sooner.    It  may  be 
renewed  only  once  and  must  be  brought  to 
the  North  Carolina  Collection  for  renewal. 


Form  No,  A-369 


Ri;v    UkAXTON  CRAVKN.   I).  D.,   1,1..   D. 


LIRE 


OF 


BRAXTON  CRRVEN,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 


BY 

JEROME  DOWD, 

Professor  of  Political  Economy  and  Sociology, 
TRINITY  COLLEGE,  N     C. 


RALEIGH.    N.  C  : 

Edwards  &  Broughton,  Printers  and  Binders. 

1896. 


PREFACE. 

The  author  of  this  book  reahzes  that  he  has  not 
the  proper  quahfications  for  writing  biography-.  His 
chosen  work  hes  in  a  different  field.  But  he  has 
been  constrained  to  undertake  this  work  for  pecuhar 
reasons.  In  the  first  place,  he  realized  that  the 
biography  of  Dr.  Craven  could  never  be  written  by 
one  who  had  not  been  a  student  under  him.  In  the 
second  place,  he  realized  that  very  few  of  those  who 
knew  him  as  a  teacher  had  the  requisite  facilities  and 
leisure  for  the  undertaking;  and  lastly,  that  the  con- 
temporaries of  Dr.  Craven  were  fast  passing  away, 
and  that  in  a  few  more  j^ears  no  one  would  be  living 
to  tell  the  story. 

Impelled  by  these  considerations,  the  author  has, 
during  the  past  two  j^ears,  employed  his  leisure  mo- 
ments in  examining  Dr.  Craven's  manuscripts,  col- 
lecting facts  and  weaving  together  the  story  of  his 
life. 

The  object  sought  in  this  sketch  is  solely  to  aid  in 
holding  up  to  coming  generations  of  North  Caroli- 
nians this  example  of  heroism  and  Christian  virtue. 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  I. 

Traditional  history  of  Randolph  county— Description  of  the 
Southeastern  section  and  its  people— Nathan  Cox  settles 
on  the  Deep  River,  9-16. 

CHAPTER  II. 

Braxton  Craven  comes  under  the  care  of  Nathan  Cox,  and 
is  put  to  hard  work  on  the  farm,  17-20. 

CHAPTER  III. 

Braxton  makes  his  first  trip  to  market— Happens  to  an  acci- 
dent, and  receives  his  first  book— Goes  to  school  and  tends 
the  mill,  21-23. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

At  the  a^e  of  eleven  he  drives  a  load  of  flour  to  Fayette- 
ville  alone— Boyish  sports  on  the  farm,  24-26. 

CHAPTER  V. 

Scene  in  Cox's  home— Studying  by  a  pine  torch,  27-30. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Cox  goes  West  and  leaves  Braxton  in  charge  of  the  farm- 
Old-fashioned  corn  shucking— Braxton  leaves  the  Cox 
family   and   teaches   school— Converted  to    Christianity, 

31-35- 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Licensed  to  preach— Some  incidents  in  his  early  ministry- 
Goes  to  New  Garden,  a  Quaker  school,  36-39. 


6  Table  of  Contents, 

chapter  viii. 

Elected  assistant  teacher  at  Union  Institute— Two  years 
later  elected  Principal,  40-43. 

CHAPTER  IX. 
His  courtship  and  marriage,  44-48. 

CHAPTER  X. 

Life  in  a  log- cabin,  49-51. 

CHAPTER  XL 

Union  Institute  changed  to  Normal  College— Burning  the 
midnight  oil — Receives  degrees,  52-57. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Prof.  Craven  builds  a  new  home — A  model  husband — His  first 
trip  North,  58-61. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Property  of  the  College  transferred  to  the  Conference  and 
named  changed  to  Trinity — Dr.  Craven  in  charge  of  Salis- 
bury prison — War  closes  the  College— College  re-opens — 
new  buildings — A  troublesome  debt — Notes  from  his  diary, 
62-72. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Dr.  Craven  in  his  office — Some  peculiarities — Personal  ap- 
pearance— Commencement  occasion,  74-81. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Governing  students — His  magnetism — Accompanying  a 
party  of  students  to  Washington — Miscellaneous  facts, 
81-88. 


Table  of  Contents.  •  7 

chapter  xvii. 

In  the  class-room — His  scholarship  and  methods  of  teacli- 
ing,  89-97 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
In  the  pulpit — His  power  and  influence,  98-101. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
His  miscellaneous  works,  102-104. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Weighed  down  with  burdens  and  sorrows,  his  health  fails, 
104-109. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Grieved  at  the   prospect  of  giving  up  his  work— A  retro- 
spective view — His  death,  110-115. 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  funeral— Expressions  of  sympathy— Press  notices,  116- 
125- 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Estimate  of  the  man  and  his  work,  126-131. 


Table  of  Contents. 


PART  SECOND. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Extracts  from  bis  Lectures — Best  Method  of  Communicat- 
ing Knowledge — Rhetoric  and  the  Fine  Arts — Sculpture  — 
Geology.  135-15 '• 

CHAPTER  n. 
Address  to  the  Graduating  Class,  152-156. 

CHAPTER  in. 

Sermons  and  Extracts— The  Great  Promise — The  Nature  of 
the  Soul — Divnne  Life — Confidence  in  Man — The  Rashness 
of  Transgressions — Demoralization — Brotherhood— Frag- 
ments, T57-180. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Baccalaureate  Sermon,  181-202. 

CHAPTER  V. 
Civilization  of  the  Southern  States,  203-207. 

APPENDIX. 
A  novel — "Naomi  Wise,"  212-246. 


LIFE  OF  BRAXTON  GRAVEN,  D.D..LLD. 


CHAPTER  I. 

"In  the  year  1688  two  wagons  might  have  been 
seen  wending  their  way  through  Virginia.  Amid 
difficulties  of  every  description,  they  at  length  arrive 
at  two  log  huts  (now  Salisbury)  where  they  repose 
for  a  few  days.  Again  they  move  forward,  and  by  a 
route  never  known  they  at  last  arrive  at  what  is 
called  Pilot  Mountain,  in  this  (Randolph)  county. 
At  a  little  fountain  on  the  north  side  they  pitched 
their  camp,  that  they  might  rest  a  short  time,  pro- 
cure provisions  and  explore  the  country.  *  ^  >f^ 
Soon,  however,  soft  slumbers  were  broken  by  a  terror 
unseen,  unknown,  and  therefore  doubly  alarming. 

*  ^-^  A  strong  odor  of  sulphur  made  every  one 
gasp  for  breath.  A  low,  but  awful,  rumbling  un- 
nerv'^ed  ever>^  soul  in  the  group,  except  Cox  and  Mof- 
fitt,  the  proprietors.  *  *  The  mountain  was  vol- 
canic. At  early  dawn  the  two  gentlemen  set  out  for 
the  summit  of  the  mountain,  and  ere  they  had  pro- 
ceeded far,  discovered  the  cause  of  their  alarm.  *  * 
When  they  gained  the  summit  their  alarm  had 
ceased,  and  past  terror  was  forgotten  in  contemplat- 
ing the  scene  before  them.  *  *  While  contem- 
plating, they  were  suddenly  alarmed  by  an  awful 


lo  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

war-whoop  of  the  Indian,  in  the  direction  of  the 
camp.  They  hurried  down,  and  as  the  fierce  yell 
died  awa}^  the  very  blood  froze  in  their  veins  when 
they  heard  loud  lamentations  from  their  friends. 
Two  or  three  Indian  warriors  had  stealthily  ap- 
proached, and  as  little  Amy  Cox  strolled  a  few 
steps,  they  seized  and  bore  her  off,  beyond  the  pos- 
sibilit}^  of  rescue.  The  alarm,  the  pain  of  the  fam- 
ilies; may  be  imagined  but  not  described.  With 
almost  broken  hearts,  the}'  left  that  melancholy  place 
and  finally  settled  on  Deep  River.  '-^^  ^  Finally 
the  long-lost  daughter  escaped  her  captors,  reached 
her  friends,  and  now  her  descendants  worship  at 
Holly  Spring." 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  the 
territory  now  comprising  Randolph  county  contained 
a  considerable  population.  In  the  vicinity  of  Cedar 
Falls  there  were  a  number  of  very  thrifty  and  sub- 
stantial families,  such  as  the  Browns,  Hinshaws,  Bur- 
gesses, Johnsons,  Coxes,  Moffitts,  Cravens,  Robbinses 
and  Yorks.  The  natural  scenery  round  about  is  pic- 
turesque. The  surface  of  the  countr}-  is  irregular  and 
rolling,  and  several  mountainous  peaks  rise  to  view  in 
the  west  and  south.  The  Deep  river  surges  and 
plunges  its  wa}^  among  the  rocks  and  hills,  with  here 
and  there  decided  falls  and  rocky  cliffs  and  crags  on 
either  side.  Indeed,  in  some  places  the  landscape 
rivals  the  Blue  Ridge  in  its  wildness  and  beauty.  This 
section  was  the  scene  of  many  interesting  and  stir- 
ring events  of  the  Rev^olution.     The  violence  of  that 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  ii 

Revolution  and  the  disorganization  of  society  accom- 
panying it,  put  the  characters  of  men  to  a  severe 
test.  The  intense  passions  aroused  tended  to  develop 
and  expose  whatever  was  either  good  or  bad  in 
human  nature.  There  were  developed,  on  the  one 
hand,  men  who  distinguished  themselves  for  vice, 
rapine  and  the  most  villainous  of  crimes  ;  and  on  the 
other,  men  who  displayed  the  noblest  virtues  and 
highest  patriotism.  Many  people  in  this  section  were 
active  in  the  Regulator  movements  preceding  the 
Revolution.  In  the  Colonial  Records  there  is  an 
account  of  the  Governor's  marching  "into  the  plan- 
tations of  Husband,  Hunter  and  several  others  of 
the  outlawed  chiefs  of  the  Regulators ' '  and  laying 
them  waste.  Some  time  before  this  Husband,  Hun- 
ter and  others  assembled  at  Hillsborough  * '  and  in  a 
violent  manner  went  into  the  court  house  and  forci- 
bly carried  out  some  of  the  attorneys,  and  in  a  cruel 
manner  beat  them.  They  then  insisted  that  the 
judge  should  proceed  to  the  trial  of  their  leaders, 
who  had  been  indicted  at  a  former  court,  and  that 
the  jury  should  be  taken  out  of  their  own  party." 
The  judge  escaped  in  the  night  and  left  the  "court 
in  course. ' ' 

The  next  day  the  so-called  Regulators  took  charge 
of  the  docket  and  held  mock  trials.  Case  No.  12 
was  ' '  Isaiah  Hogan  (a  Tory)  vs,  Hermon  Husbands. ' ' 
The  judgment  entered  on  the  docket  was  this:  ' '  Ho- 
gan pays  and  be  damned." 


12  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

This  section  was  the  scene  of  many  deeds  of  vio- 
lence on  the  part  of  the  noted  Tor}^,  Col.  David 
Fanning,  who  was  one  of  the  most  atrocious  mur- 
derers and  most  successful  outlaws  of  this  or  any 
other  countr}'. 

**  In  1778  there  lived  about  one  mile  west  of  Deep 
River  Graveyard,  some  twelve  miles  southeast  of 
Asheboro,  a  family  by  the  name  of  Comer — the  hus- 
band, wife  and  four  children.  Mrs.  Comer's  friends, 
had  all  been  slain  by  the  Indians:  from  a  secure 
hiding  place  she  had  seen  them  scalped,  and  after 
the  Indians  retired,  she  wept  herself  to  sleep  upon 
the  bosom  of  her  lifeless  mother.  From  her  slum- 
bers she  was  aroused  by  the  yell  of  another  prowling 
party,  and  would  have  been  slain  in  turn  but  for  the 
presence  of  mind  to  appear  as  dead  until  the  maraud- 
ers passed  by.  *  "^^  She  never  could  bear  to  be  left 
alone;  any  noise  at  night  always  alarmed  her;  often 
in  the  dusk  of  evening  a  bush  or  stump  took  the 
form  of  her  scalpless  father  or  an  armed  Indian.  One 
day  in  autumn.  Comer  must  needs  go  from  home, 
and  could  not  possibly  return  till  after  night.  *  * 
No  neighbor  lived  nearer  than  three  miles,  and  no 
company,  except  four  helpless  children  and  a  faith- 
ful dog,  could  Mrs.  Comer  have.  That  day  was  one 
of  anxiety;  the  very  trees  in  the  surrounding  wood 
looked  lonely,  and  the  birds  seemed  to  have  laid  aside 
their  joy  to  sigh  out  in  mournful  notes  some  tale  of 
woe;  indeed,  massacre  and  Tory  murder  was  appar- 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.       13 

ently  the  burden  of  their  song.  As  evening  ap- 
proached, the  gloom  increased.  Dark  clouds  rolled 
athwart  the  sk}^;  a  heav}^  wind,  like  lost  spirits, 
mourned  among  the  trees,  making  the  uneasy  door- 
shutter  sway  to  and  fro,  as  if  it  were  prophes3dng 
to  its  lonely  inmate.  The  chickens  commenced 
crowing,  the  owls  hooted  their  ominous  dirges  from 
a  high  woodland,  and  the  faithful  dog  whined,  walked 
about  uneasily,  occasionally  uttering  a  long,  thrill- 
ing howl  that  rent  the  poor  woman's  heart  like  dag- 
gers. The  little  children,  thoughtless  of  danger, 
fell  asleep,  but  Mrs.  Comer  tried  to  keep  them  awake 
for  company.  A  while  after  night  her  very  pulse 
ceased  beating,  as  she  heard  a  stealthy  step  around 
the  house  and  low  voices  in  consultation.  *  *  At 
last  a  bar  fell — she  knew  her  husband  was  approach- 
ing. What  must  she  do?  Let  him  approach  and 
fall  by  the  assassin's  hand,  or  fly  to  him  and  bid  him 
escape  for  his  life?  Impelled  b}^  a  wife's  love,  she 
rushed  out,  and  ere  she  had  crossed  the  yard  was 
seized  by  a  Tory's  hand  and  hurled  to  the  ground. 
Startled  by  her  screams,  her  husband  rushed  to  her 
and  instantly  fell — stabbed  literally  to  pieces.  The 
ruffians  entered  the  house,  plundered  it  of  what  they 
wished,  and  dragged  the  children  out,  to  be  slain  at 
their  father's  side.  Meanwhile,  the  mother  softly 
arose  and  hastened  through  a  dark  and  lonely  way 
to  the  nearest  house.  Next  day  the  friends  placed 
father  and  children  in  one  grave  in  Deep  River  Grave- 


14      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

yard.  But  the  mother — poor  mother  ! — her  heart 
was  broken,  her  cup  was  full,  and  soon  she  reposed 
beside  her  loved  ones. 

"Stranger,  when  you  visit  that  venerable  place,  in 
the  southwest  corner  you  will  see  a  little  mound: 
there  they  repose,  drop  a  tear  to  their  memory  and 
breathe  a  sigh  to  their  dust.  *  =•'  ^  The  sight 
of  Comer's  old  field,  as  related  by  some  old  men, 
has  often  made  children  shudder.  The  crowing 
of  chickens  after  sunset,  and  the  howling  of  dogs 
in  dusky  twilight,  are  considered  bad  signs  in  all 
that  countr3^  Everj^  mill-boy  will  go  miles  further 
rather  than  pass  that  old  field  after  night.  The 
general  belief  is :  that  under  an  old  mulberr}^,  on 
cloudy  evenings,  a  dog  maj^  always  be  heard 
whining;  that  the  sound  of  voices  is  even  distinct, 
and  that  a  bear  may  be  heard  half  a  mile  distant. 
Ahvays  in  September,  soon  after  night,  a  man 
may  be  seen  riding  among  the  pines,  which  now  give 
a  ghost-like  appearance  to  the  place;  five  corpses 
may  be  seen  lying  where  the  house  stood,  and  a  fe- 
male may  be  met  on  any  dark  night  hastening  along 
the  ridge  road.  Though  the  graveyard  is  near  the 
public  road,  few  persons  see  it  after  night,  for  they 
believe  a  woman  in  white  may  be  seen  sitting  on  that 
neglected  mound,  and  that  winding  sheets  wave  in 
the  trees." 

Among  the  signers  of  petitions  sent  to  the  Gov- 
ernor from  this  county  during  the  Regulator  move- 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 


15 


ments,  are  found  the  names  of  many  people  who  evi- 
dently lived  in  what  is  now  the  southeastern  portion. 
In  the  list  are  the  names  of  Peter  Craven  and  Har- 
mon Cox,  two  of  the  most  common  names  now  to 
be  found  in  the  county.  Jacob  Cox,  a  probable 
grandson  of  Harmon  Cox,  had  only  two  sons,  Jacob 
and  Nathan  W. ,  and  to  each  he  bequeathed  a  large 
tract  of   land  along  the  Deep  River,     About   1820 


COX'S  LOG  CABIN. 

Nathan,  having  married,  left  the  old  homestead  and 
located  further  south.  He  selected  as  the  site  of  his 
new  home  the  brow  of  a  hill  about  four  miles  south- 
east of  the  present  village  of  Ramseur.  At  first  he 
lived  in  a  tent  pitched  in  a  grove  of  cedars  and  elms, 
within  two  hundred  yards  of  the  Deep  River  and 
overlooking  it  a  mile  to  the  northwest  and  a  half  mile 
to  the  southeast.     The  surface  of  the  country  on 


1 6       Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

either  side  of  the  river  is  rugged  and  hilly.  To  the 
southeast  ma}"  be  seen  a  decided  peak,  some  four  or 
five  hundred  feet  high,  known  as  Pilot  Mountain. 
The  river,  forcing  its  wa}'  over  the  rocky  channel 
and  keeping  up  a  ceaseless  roar,  could  be  distinctly" 
heard  at  the  camp.  The  scene  from  the  brow  of  the 
hill  is  indeed  romantic.  Mr.  Cox's  tract  of  land 
comprised  about  one  thousand  acres.  As  soon  as  he 
could  get  the  necessar}'  timber  he  erected  a  log  cabin, 
having  one  room  on  the  ground  floor  and  a  sort  of 
loft  above,  with  a  small  window  in  the  gable  end  to 
admit  light.  A  pencil  sketch  of  the  house  is  pre- 
sented on  preceding  page. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  17 


CHAPTER  II. 

No  one  now  living  is  able  to  state  the  exact  cir- 
cumstances which  led  to  Braxton  Craven's  joining 
the  Cox  household.      Calvin  Cox,  son  of  Nathan, 
says  that  his  father  found  the  lad  in  distress,  then  , 
about  seven  j^ears  old,  and  took  him  in  the  family. 

Mr.  Cox  was  a  man  of  great  push  and  enterprise. 
He  cleared  land,  started  a  saw-mill,  built  barns  and 
cribs,  and  soon  made  himself  independent.  He 
planted  large  fields  of  corn,  oats,  wheat  and  potatoes; 
raised  horses,  cows,  sheep,  chickens,  turkeys,  geese, 
and  planted  an  immense  orchard  of  some  four  or 
five  hundred  trees.  Behind  the  house,  at  the  bottom 
of  a  steep  hill,  w^as  a  large  rock  spring,  shaded  by  a 
mulberry  tree,  where  the  milk  and  butter  were  kept, 
and  also  where  the  washing  was  done.  When  young 
Craven  entered  the  household.  Cox  had  only  three 
children — Stephen,  then  about  two  years  older  than 
Craven,  Rachael,  about  the  same  age,  and  Calvin,  a 
baby.  Stephen  and  Brack  (as  he  was  called)  worked 
every  day  on  the  farm.  The  fact  that  Cox  was  a 
Quaker  and  opposed  to  owning  slaves  probably  ac- 
counts for  his  having  put  these  boys  to  work  earlier 
and  harder  than  otherwise  would  have  been  the  case. 
They  milked  the  cows,  brought  water,  fed  the  horses, 
slopped  hogs  and  worked  m  the  field.  At  night  they 
slept  in  the  loft  on  a  pallet.     The  window  of  the 


1 8      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

room  was  too  high  from  the  floor  through  which  to 
see  anything  but  the  moon  and  stars.  When  Brack 
had  been  there  about  a  year,  Cox  decided  to  build  a 
new  residence.  Accordingl}-  he  erected  in  front  of 
the  old  one  a  substantial  two-story  frame  building, 
having  five  rooms  on  the  ground  floor  and  two  above. 
This  house  is  still  standing  and  a  lead-pencil  sketch 
of  it  is  herewith  presented. 


COX'S  LATER  RESIDENCE. 


As  the  years  went  by,  Cox  cleared  more  land  and 
enlarged  his  farming  operations.  He  made  fifteen 
or  twent}^  barrels  of  vinegar  each  year,  besides  large 
quantities  of  cider.  He  built  a  large  barn  and  a 
corn-crib  and  wagon-shed  in  front  of  his  house.  To 
the  left  of  the  house,  and  near  the  gate  of  the  barn- 
yard, was  built  a  blacksmith  shop.  About  half  mile 
distant,  on  a  small  stream,  he  built  a  grist  mill.     He 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.       19 

built  a  loom  house  and  also  a  cooperage  for  making 
barrels,  the  heads  of  which  were  dried  in  the  kitchen 
fire-place.  To  make  the  farm  complete,  he  con- 
structed a  brandy  distillery  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill, 
about  two  hundred  yards  from  the  spring.  Brandy 
at  his  house  was  almost  as  abundant  as  water.  Mr. 
H.  B.  Allen,  one  of  his  neighbors,  says  he  kept  it 
in  a  pitcher  on  a  table  for  anybody  that  w^anted  it. 
Another  neighbor  remarks  that  Cox  used  brandy 
instead  of  coffee.  The  demand  for  spirits  in  those 
days  being  somewhat  brisk,  he  put  in  a  second  dis- 
tillery where  he  manufactured  corn  whiskey.  Cox's 
wife  was  a  woman  of  remarkable  constitution  and 
was  as  full  of  energ}^  as  himself.  Not  infrequently 
she  would  work  at  the  still  at  night  after  doing  her 
every-day  tasks.  She  cooked,  worked  at  the  spin- 
ning wheel,  wove  cloth,  knitted  socks,  and  in  fact 
made  pretty  much  all  the  clothing  for  the  household 

As  one  of  the  neighbors  expressed  it,  "she  was  a 
woman  who  wouldn't  stand  back  for  anything." 
Among  other  achievements,  she  gave  birth  to  four- 
teen children,  eight  of  whom  lived  to  maturity. 

Young  Brack  never  shirked  work.  He  displayed 
restless  activity,  and  would  often  volunteer  w^hen 
any  disagreeable  task  was  to  be  done.  He  was  also 
very  obliging.  Mr.  H.  B.  Allen  relates  that  he 
was  passing  Cox's  house  one  day  with  a  load  of 
grist,  when  a  heavy  storm  compelled  him  to  stop, 
and  that  Brack  helped  him  to  unload  his  sacks  of 
erain. 


20      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

Brack  learned  to  saw  logs,  run  the  mill,  make 
shoes,  ploughs,  harrows,  horse  shoes,  barrels,  can- 
dles, brandy,  whiskey  and  cider.  On  a  recent  visit 
to  the  homestead  the  writer  saw  the  old  shoe  bench, 
blocks,  awls,  etc.,  also  the  hackler  and  scutch  used 
in  preparing  flax,  the  tin  candle  moulds,  the  tun-dish 
for  making  cider,  the  spinning  wheel  and  much  of 
the  tableware  and  household  furniture  used  by  Na- 
than Cox.  A  description  of  the  furniture  and  table- 
ware, as  actually  used,  will  be  found  in  chapter  five. 

From  the  first  Brack  showed  great  fondness  for 
horses.  He  gave  them  special  attention  and  devel- 
oped into  an  exceptionally  good  rider  and  driver. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  21 


CHAPTER  III. 

Cox  made  frequent  trips  to  Fayetteville,  and  occa- 
sional trips  to  Bennettsville  and  Cheraw.     He  trav- 
eled in  a  four-horse  covered  wagon  loaded  with  flour, 
liquor,    cider,    vinegar,    potatoes,    chickens,    eggs, 
hams,  turkeys,  butter,  cheese,  etc.     WHien  he  went 
to  Fayetteville  Brack  usually  accompanied  him.    The 
trip  required  several  days'  journeying,  and  Cox  car- 
ried along  with  him  a  tent,  camp-stool,  frying  pan, 
coffee  pot,  and  a  provision  box,  full  of  baked  bread, 
sugar,   salt,   a  few  pewter  plates,   cups  and  other 
things  necessary  to  camp  life.     On  one  occasion  they 
were  returning  from  Fayetteville,  in  company  with 
Mr.  John  Parks  and  his  son  Hugh,  the  latter  two  in 
their  own  w^agon.     They  camped  one  night  at  Ty- 
son's toll  bridge,  and  the  spring  being  a  consider- 
able way  off,  Mr.   Cox  and  Mr.  Parks  agreed  to  go 
for  the  water  if  Brack  and  young  Hugh  would  cook 
the  meat  and  make  coffee.     While  the  old  men  were 
at  the  spring,  some  hogs  from  a  neighboring  farm 
raided  the  camp  and  were  about  to  get  in  the  pro- 
vision box.     The  boys,  however,  were  equal  to  the 
occasion  and  not  only  routed  the  enemy,  but  had  a 
great  amount  of  fun  in  doing  so.     They  got  some 
sharp  sticks,  and  after  setting  them  afire,  pursued  the 
swine  and  sent  them  squealing  all  over  the  woods. 
In  the  meantime  the  camp  fire  had  become  scattered 
about  and  it  required  hustling  to  repair  it  before 


22       Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

the  water-bearers  appeared  upon  the  scene.  On  the 
same  trip,  having  laid  in  a  supply  of  sulphur  matches 
(then  quite  rare  in  that  countr}-),  j^oung  Brack  wish- 
ing to  experiment  somewhat,  set  fire  to  a  field  of 
wire-grass  and  laid  it  in  waste. 

On  one  of  these  visits  to  Fayetteville  Braxton  hap- 
pened to  an  accident.  He  fell  off  the  wagon,  or  in 
some  way  got  under  one  of  the  horses,  which  trod 
on  his  leg,  making  an  ugly  and  painful  cut.  He  was 
carried  into  a  store  where  his  wound  was  dressed. 
While  lying  on  the  counter  in  a  somewhat  fretful 
mood,  the  merchant  gave  him  a  spelling  book  to 
divert  his  mind.  This  was  the  first  book  he  ever  had. 
He  carried  it  home  with  him  and  made  it  the  corner- 
stone of  his  education.  The  injur}-  received  from  the 
horse  left  a  scar  w^hich  remained  with  him  through- 
out life. 

Another  incident  connected  with  his  wagoning  is 
this  :  Returning  late  one  night  from  a  trip  to  a  neigh- 
bor's  with  a  wagon  load  of  lumber,  he  was  delayed 
by  a  rain  storm,  and  darkness  closed  in  on  him  as  he 
was  coming  down  the  steep  hill  at  the  mill  The 
creek  had  to  be  crossed  on  the  dam,  which  was  bareh^ 
wide  enough  for  the  wagon.  While  hesitating  and 
trembling  with  fear,  a  light  appeared  some  distance 
ahead  descending  the  hill.  In  a  few  moments  he 
saw,  under  the  glare  of  a  pine  torch,  the  face  of  one  of 
his  neighbor  playmates,  who,  knowing  that  Brack 
had  not  returned,  had  come  down  to  help  him  across 
the  narrow  and  dangerous  pass.     Brack  appreciated 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      23 

this  very  much,  and  often  referred  to  it  afterwards 

as  one  of  the  most  valued  favors  he  ever  received. 

Speaking    of   wagoning,   calls  to  mind    the  fact 

_  that  Brack  hauled  the  first  load  of  lumber  for  the 

^^  cotton  factory  at  Cedar  Falls.     Mr.  Hugh  Parks, 

then  a  little  boy,  also  did  some  wagoning  for  the  mill, 

and  says  he  often  saw  Brack  and  his  team. 

Brack,  having  made  some  progress  in  his  spelling- 
book,  and  learning  of  a  school  in  the  neighborhood, 
expressed  a  desire  to  attend.  Cox  gratified  this  wish 
and  sent  both  him  and  Stephen.  The  teacher  was 
Jack  Byers,  who  held  forth  in  a  log-house  about  two 
miles  away.  Mr.  Byers  had  the  reputation  for  being 
a  good  teacher,  and  is  said  to  have  been  an  excep- 
tionally fine  penman  While  attending  school  Brack 
was  required  to  do  the  feeding,  morning  and  even- 
ing, and  to  tend  the  mill  when  necessary  to  grind 
after  dark.  Mr.  Hugh  Parks,  of  FrankHnsville,  says 
that  he  had  often  taken  grist  to  the  mill  when  Brack 
was  running  it.  Mr  Jackson  Craven,  living  near 
Ramseur,  but  not  related  to  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
says  that  often  when  Brack  tended  the  mill  at  night 
he  w^ould  gather  up  sticks  and  make  a  fire  to  study 
his  grammar  lesson  while  the  mill  was  running. 

One  may  well  imagine,  as  Brack  was  returning 
from  the  mill  after  dark,  that  he  saw  ghosts  hiding 
along  the  road,  "winding  sheets  in  the  trees,"  and 
heard  "crowing  chickens,"  "  howhng  dogs,"  and 
whispering  voices." 


24  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Just  a  few  weeks  before  the  close  of  a  session  of 
the  school,  Mr.  Cox  informed  Brack  that  he  must 
soon  accompan}^  him  with  the  wagon  to  Fayetteville. 
Brack  was  reluctant  to  go.  He  had  been  taking 
quite  an  interest  in  declamations,  and  he  had  pre- 
pared a  speech  for  the  closing  exercises  soon  to  take 
place.  At  length  he  persuaded  Cox  to  start  a  few^ 
days  earlier,  in  order  that  they  might  return  in  time 
for  the  school  closing.  Cox  and  Brack  put  out  with 
a  four-horse  load  of  flour.  They  camped  the  first 
night  about  seven  miles  out,  and  were  there  met  by 
a  number  of  other  wagoners  of  the  neighborhood. 
Next  morning,  after  they  had  gone  several  miles, 
they  heard  the  footsteps  of  a  horse  coming  behind 
them  at  a  rapid  pace.  The  rider  stopped  abruptly 
at  Cox's  wagon,  and  dismounting,  said,  "Dad,  I 
got  bad  news.  Sis'  Rachel  is  nigh  dead.  The  pot 
fell  ofE  the  rack  and  spilt  the  scalding  water  all  over 
her.  Ma.  told  me  to  come  after  you. ' '  Mr.  Cox  told 
Brack  that  he  would  go  home  and  return  that  day  if 
the  child  was  not  dangerously  hurt,  but  if  she  was, 
he  would  send  Stephen  to  notify  him  to  bring  the 
wagon  home.  Taking  a  horse  out  of  the  team,  Mr. 
Cox  hurried  away.  As  the  evening  drew  on  apace 
Brack  became  very  impatient.  He  was  thinking 
that  this  delay  might  cause  him  to  miss  the  declama- 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.       25 

tion  contest.  Finally  he  saw  Stephen  coming  over 
the  hill  on  a  horse.  Stephen  brought  word  for  Brack 
to  return  home.  Brack  was  downcast,  but  in  a 
moment  a  flash  of  light  passed  over  his  face.  He 
told  Stephen  that  he  had  decided  to  go  on  to  Fayette- 
ville  with  the  load;  that  he  thought  he  could  "  make 
out ' '  with  three  horses,  and  that  he  could  catch  the 
wagons  that  had  gone  ahead.  Stephen  was  dumb- 
founded, but  Brack,  being  resolute,  cracked  his  whip 
and  drove  away. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  truth  of  this  inci- 
dent. Mrs.  James  Hutton^,  now  living  at  Climax, 
told  the  wTiter  that  her  husband  joined  Craven  on 
this  trip  and  helped  him  to  sell  his  produce.  She 
says  Craven  was  then  about  1 1  years  old,  and  that 
he  had  to  stand  upon  a  bucket  to  fasten  the  horses' 
collars. 

Xhe  Cox  boys,  and  also  Brack  Craven,  were  dis- 
ciplined to  hard  labor.  On  a  large  farm,  having  so 
many  different  departments,  there  was  always  plenty 
to  do  for  the  laborers.  However,  the  boys  had  their 
hours  for  sport  and  play  as  well  as  for  work.  They 
pitched  horseshoes,  played  marbles,  rolleyhole, 
hunted"  rabbits,  opossums,  deer,  foxes,  killed  snakes 
and  fished  in  all  the  neighboring  streams.  They 
climbed  trees,  swam  in  the  river  and  rolled  in  the  hay 
loft. 


*Her  grandfather  sat  on  the  jury  that  tried  I^ewis  for  the  murder  ot 
Naomi  Wise. 


26      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

Among  the  boys  at  one  time  was  Jas.  A.  Ellison, 
who  had  been  hired  by  Cox  to  assist  in  the  farm 
work.  He  was  several  j^ears  older  than  Craven. 
One  day  Craven  and  Ellison  were  ordered  to  do  some 
ploughing  among  the  3'oung  vegetables  in  the  gar- 
den patch.  Craven  played  the  part  of  a  horse  and 
hitched  himself  to  the  plough  while  Ellison  guided 
the  plough  and  held  the  rope.  Craven  took  fright 
at  a  bumble  bee  and  ran  away  tearing  up  cabbages, 
potatoe  vines  and  things  in  general.  There  is  a  tra- 
dition to  the  effect  that  these  wild  young  colts  were 
tamed  by  a  liberal  application  of  the  limbs  of  a  peach 
tree. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  27 


CHAPTER  V. 

"  Softly  the  evening  came.     The  sun  from  the  western 

horizon, 
"Like  a  magician,  extended  his  golden  wand  o'er  the 

landscape." 

The  boys  left  their  ploughs  in  the  field  and,  mount- 
ing their  horses,  wended  their  homeward  way.  The 
cows  and  sheep  came  struggling  up  the  lane,  jingling 
their  bells  and  lowing  and  bleating.  The  swine, 
lingering  about  the  barn  gate,  were  grunting  and 
squealing  with  impatience  for  their  evening  allow- 
ance. The  turkeys,  chickens  and  guineas  were 
scrambling  in  the  trees  and  quarreling  over  their 
roosts.  The  purple  finches,  taking  their  evening 
meal  in  the  cedars,  caught  the  warning  and  flitted 
away  to  find  perches  for  the  night.  Now  and  then 
the  melancholy  notes  of  the  whippoorwill  rose  upon 
the  air,  echoed  among  the  hills  and  died  away  along 
the  valley. 

While  the  boys  were  watering  and  feeding  the 
stock,  Mrs.  Cox  was  busy  in  the  kitchen  preparing 
the  supper.  In  a  high,  wide  fireplace  were  two  iron 
weights,  like  square  dumb-bells,  formerly  used  at 
the  mill,  now  serving  the  purpose  of  andirons.  A 
number  of  hickory  sticks,  laid  across  these  irons 
were  burning  with  a  cheerful  blaze.  Suspended  over 
the  fire  and  supported  by  two  iron  bars  that  hung 


28      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

down  the  chimney,  was  a  large  iron  pot  for  boiling 
water  and  stewing  meat.  On  the  hearth  was  an  iron 
oven  full  of  biscuits,  with  hot  coals  under  it  and  hot 
ashes  piled  upon  the  lid.  A  tin  coffee  pot,  with 
steam  oozing  from  the  spout,  occupied  a  place  among 
the  coals  and  ashes  in  front  of  the  fire,  and  resting 
upon  the  blazing  wood  was  a  frying  pan,  giving  forth 
savory  odors  of  ham  and  bacon.  A  little  child  was 
sitting  upon  the  floor  toying  with  a  bone,  and  a  large 
brown  cat  with  sleepy  eyes  was  lying  upon  the  pro- 
vision box  in  the  corner.  Presently  the  supper  was 
spread.  The  table  cover  was  a  tow- cloth  of  Mrs. 
Cox's  own  make  A  pewter  plate,  a  cup,  a  tub- 
shaped  glass,  and  a  black-handle  knife  and  fork  were 
placed  for  each  member  of  the  household.  A  home- 
made candle,  in  a  corroded  brass  holder,  occupied 
the  center  of  the  table.  The  meat  and  biscuits  were 
served  in  heav}^  flat  crock  dishes.  Some  cold  veg- 
etables, saved  over  from  dinner,  and  some  pies  that 
had  been  cooked  in  earthen  pans,  were  taken  from 
a  greasy  pine  cupboard  and  also  placed  upon  the 
table.  The  molasses  was  in  a  little  tin  pot  near  the 
candle.  The  sugar  was  in  a  dark-red  earthen  jar 
with  a  light  figured  border.  The  milk  was  in  a 
heavy  crock  pitcher  having  two  iron  bands. 

The  supper  being  read}",  Mrs.  Cox  takes  from  the 
shelf  a  large  cow-bell  and  rings  it  at  the  kitchen 
door.  The  summons  is  promptly  obeyed.  As  Mr. 
Cox  enters  the  room  he  stops  near  the  door  where  a 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.       29 

pail  of  fresh  water  is  resting  upon  a  little  shelf,  and 
taking  a  long-handle  gourd  from  a  nail  on  the  wall, 
fills  his  mouth,  rinses  it  and  squirts  the  water  upon 
the  ground.  (By  the  way,  the  cup  part  of  the  gourd 
having  been  cracked,  was  sewed  up  with  coarse  flax 
thread. )  Mrs.  Cox  pours  out  the  coffee  and  the 
dishes  are  passed  around  until  all  are  helped.  The 
daughter,  Rachael,  flourishes  a  fly-brush  made  of 
peacock  feathers.  The  conversation  turns  on  the 
amount  of  w^ork  done  in  the  field,  the  events  at  the 
school-house  and  the  prospects  for  fall  marketing.  A 
bat,  lured  by  the  light,  sails  into  the  room  and  after 
a  few  circuits  darts  out  of  the  window.  Several 
hounds  gather  about  the  back  door,  some  lying 
down  and  others  standing  up,  watching  every  move- 
ment within,  and  endeavoring  to  catch  the  drift  of 
the  conversation. 

The  supper  is  over.  The  Cox  family  are  sitting 
in  the  large  room  on  the  left  as  you  enter  the  house. 
The  floor  is  bare.  The  ceiling  consists  simply  of  the 
floor  above,  resting  upon  large  sleepers.  An  old  clock 
hangs  upon  the  wall  in  a  gilded  frame,  measuring 
the  minutes  with  a  lazy  stroke.  The  lower  part  of 
the  clock  is  covered  by  a  glass  door,  on  which  is 
painted  a  mediaeval  castle.  Upon  the  high  mantle- 
piece  is  a  long,  narrow  looking-glass  in  a  wooden 
frame,  on  the  upper  part  of  which  is  painted  a  box- 
shaped  house  and  two  trees.  On  either  end  of  the 
mantle  is  a  heavy  crock  vase  of  mahogany  color  with 


so  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

two  small  white  borders  bringing  out  in  relief  a 
wreath  of  red  flowers.  An  almanac  hangs  from  a 
nail  close  by  the  mantle.  Mr.  Cox  is  dozing  in  an 
old-fashioned  high-back,  high-armed,  split-bottom 
chair;  his  pipe  has  gone  out,  and  the  ashes  and  to- 
bacco have  fallen  all  over  his  bosom.  Mrs.  Cox  is 
whirling  the  spinning  wheel.  An  infant  lies  asleep 
in  a  cradle  b\^  the  bed.  Leaning  in  a  back  corner  of 
the  wide  fire-place  is  a  pine  torch,  blazing  and  splut- 
tering, and  casting  fantastic  shadows  upon  the  wall. 
Sitting  on  the  hearth,  with  his  back  against  the  wall, 
is  Brack  Craven,  with  a  book  in  his  left  hand,  pon- 
dering over  his  lesson.  Presently  the  w^heel  of  the 
spmdle  stops,  and  Mrs.  Cox  yawns  out  a  long,  weary 
heigh-ho  I  and,  rising,  places  her  thread  in  a  drawer 
of  a  black  walnut  bureau,  which  is  about  four  feet 
high,  smooth  like  a  table  on  top,  and  has  two  large 
glass  knobs  to  each  drawer.  Brack  closes  his  book, 
and  taking  the  torch  into  the  yard  rubs  it  in  the 
ground  to  extinguish  the  flame.  He  returns,  opens 
the  door  to  the  stairwa}^,  straggles  up  the  steps,  and 
enters  a  little  room  above.  He  lies  down  upon  a 
pallet  on  which  Stephen  is  already  sleeping.  For  a 
moment  he  looks  out  of  the  little  window  upon  the 
stars  that  smile  and  Hght  him  to  bed.  Then  his 
heavy  eyes  close,  and  the  breath  of  distant  fields 
that  he  had  ploughed  ruffle  his  hair  and  play  upon 
his  brow  with  the  gentleness  of  a  mother's  touch, 
while  the  murmur  of  the  river  and  the  song  of  crick- 
ets lull  him  to  sleep. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  31 


CHAPTER  VI. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen  Brack  was  the  chief  worker 
on  the  farm,  and  the  most  trusted  one.  Cox  felt  no 
hesitancy  in  going  away  while  Brack  was  on  hand. 
On  one  occasion  Cox  made  a  trip  on  horseback  to 
Indiana,  remaining  several  months,  and  carrying  with 
him  a  thousand  dollars  in  cash,  which  he  expected 
to  invest  in  land.  When  he  returned  he  related  many 
interesting  experiences,  and  among  other  things  told 
of  his  having  narrowly  escaped  being  robbed,  and 
how  his  having  a  pistol  with  him  alone  averted  the 
misfortune.  Brack,  with  perfect  guilelessness  of 
heart, repeated  this  incident  to  one  of  his  neighbors, 
and  so  it  w^ent  the  rounds.  As  soon  as  the  Quakers 
learned  of  Cox's  having  carried  a  pistol  they  dis- 
owned him,  as  it  was  contrary  to  their  faith  to  carry 
deadly  weapons  or  fight.  Cox  didn't  grieve  much 
over  this  action  of  the  Friends,  as  he  was  a  sort  of 
free  lance  anyway.  Perhaps  he  rather  enjoyed  the 
freedom  from  restraint,  which  he  now  felt. 

Cox  was  in  the  habit  of  giving  annual  corn-shuck- 
in  gs,  to  which  he  invited  all  the  men  of  the  sur- 
rounding country.  On  these  occasions  a  table  would 
be  placed  in  the  yard  loaded  down  with  beef  and 
mutton  stews,  pumpkin  pies,  cakes,  fruit,  and  so  on. 
Brandy  and  whiskey  would  be  furnished  the  guests 
by  the  pitcher,  jug  or  bucketful,  before  and  after 


32      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

eating.  Some  of  them  would  become  so  booz}^  that 
they  would  fall  over  in  the  shucks  and  go  to  sleep 
before  the  supper,  and  when  midnight  came  and  the 
crowd  dispersed,  a  few  of  them  would  have  to  be 
dragged  into  the  house  and  laid  upon  the  floor  to 
sleep  off  their  intoxication. 

After  going  to  school  several  sessions  to  Byers, 
young  Craven  became  very  proficient  in  the  elemen- 
tary branches  of  knowledge,  and  began  to  think  of 
severing  his  connection  with  the  Cox  family.  Ac- 
cordingl}^,  he  got  up  a  subscription  school  of  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  pupils,  and  taught  in  a  log  house,  i8x 
20,  at  Solomon  York's  plantation,  about  three  miles 
distant  from  the  Cox  place.  Braxton  was  then  about 
sixteen  years  old.  ]\Ir.  Hugh  Parks,  already  men- 
tioned, was  one  of  his  pupils.  Craven,  he  says,  was  an 
excellent  teacher.  He  gave  young  Hugh  a  MS.  con- 
taining every  example  in  Pike's  Arithmetic  worked 
out  in  his  owm  handwriting,  which  the  writer  has 
seen.  Mr.  Parks  was  the  first  pupil  that  Craven  car- 
ried through  the  intricacies  of  that  book.  While 
teaching  this  school  he  boarded  with  John  Allen, 
whose  son,  H.  B.  Allen,  the  writer  has  interviewed. 
It  was  while  boarding  here  that  he  attended  a  Meth- 
odist meeting  at  Salem  church,  and  was  converted 
under  the  preaching  of  Rev.  Colin  Murchison.  Mr. 
Murchison  is  not  now  living,  but  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
A.  M.  Gresham,  of  Independence,  Kan.,  sends  the 
writer  a  sketch  of  Braxton  Craven,  written  by  her 


Life  of  Braxton  Cravkn.  33 

father  before  he  died.     In  the  sketch  he  refers  to 
Braxton's  conversion  as  follows: 

*  *  In  the  family  of  Rev.  John  Craven,  I  often  saw 
a  nephew  of  his,  about  the  age  of  his  son  John  Wes- 
ley. They  were  nearly  always  together.  They  had 
not  been  taking  much  interest  in  our  meeting,  so  far 
as  I  could  judge  from  appearances.  But  one  morning 
at  our  prayer- meeting,  I  noticed  these  two  cousins 
came  forward  together  and  knelt  down  at  the  front 
seat,  near  where  I  was  standing.  At  the  close  of  a 
prayer  that  was  offered,  I  noticed  they  were  intensely 
in  earnest.  I  became  deeply  interested  in  them.  I 
knelt  down  between  them,  laid  a  hand  upon  the 
shoulder  of  each  of  them.  I  remember  now  how  I 
felt  when,  with  all  the  earnestness  of  my  entire 
nature,  I  urged  those  noble  blood-bought  souls  to 
put  their  w^hole  trust  in  the  Saviour,  saying  'Blessed 
are  they  that  mourn,  for  they  shall  be  comforted. ' 
'Shall  be!'  'Shall  be!'  I  repeated  with  emphasis.  I 
felt  their  bodies  under  m}^  hands  quiver  with  emo- 
tion, and  then  they  rose  up,  testified  wdth  joy  and 
peace,  that  they  had  realized  a  clear,  sweet  sense  of 
pardon.  They  felt  that  their  load  of  sin  and  guilt 
was  removed  and  they  were  comforted. 

,  "The  door  of  the  Church  was  opened  that  day, 
and  among  others  who  joined  were  the  two  cous- 
ins, Braxton  Craven  and  J.  Wesley  Craven.  They 
W'Cre,  I  think,  about  fifteen  years  of  age.  In  a  few 
weeks  they  both  developed  into  good  Christian  work- 
ers.    Braxton  was  notably  able  in  prayer. ' ' 


34      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

Mr.  H.  B.  Allen  says  that  Braxton  was  "a  wonder 
ful  man  to  study."  He,  also,  was  one  of  Craven's 
pupils.  He  relates  that,  one  winter  afternoon,  Braxton 
got  information  that  the  boys  were  going  to  demand 
a  "treat,"  and  to  meet  the  situation  he  went  to  Na- 
than Cox's,  purchased  a  bag  of  apples,  and  hid  them 
in  the  fork  of  a  tree  near  the  school-house.  Next 
morning  the  door  was  barred,  and  the  boys  met  him 
with  a  demand  that  he  either  * '  treat ' '  or  submit  to 
be  tied.  The  rope  was  produced,  and  Craven  hu- 
moring the  joke,  broke  off  and  ran  through  the 
woods,  the  boys  pursuing.  He  took  care  to  pass  by 
the  tree  where  he  had  hid  the  apples.  The  boys  seeing 
the  bag  of  apples,  ceased  the  chase  and  fell  to  eating 
them.  In  a  short  time  the  teacher  came  back,  and 
the  door  was  opened.  However,  he  dismissed  the 
school  and  joined  the  bo^-s  in  a  day  of  frolic,  run- 
ning, jumping,  pla^dng  "  stick-a-my-ree,"  and  the 
like.  Mr.  Hugh  Parks  says  he  often  heard  Craven 
at  the  vSpring  of  the  school-house  practicing  the 
Scriptures  by  reading  a  chapter  and  repeating  it  by 
heart.  He  also  says  that  Craven  never  used  the 
whip. 

At  this  time  the  monotony  of  social  life  was  occa- 
vSionally  broken  by  quilting  parties  or  cotton  pick- 
ings, at  which  the  young  people  would  gather,  play 
games,  court,  and  otherwivSe  enjoy  themselves.  The 
refreshments  usually  consisted  of  'simmon  beer  and 
a   fireplace   full  of  roasted   sweet   potatoes,   which 


LiFK  OF  Braxton  Cravkn.      35 

would  be  uncovered  and  the  ashes  dusted  off  with  a 
turkey  wing.  Sometimes  these  entertainments  would 
be  enlivened  by  a  fiddle  or  banjo. 

During  the  summer  Braxton  engaged  himself  to 
raise  a  crop  of  corn  for  Lawrence  Cox,  a  son-in-law 
of  Nathan. 

The  succeeding  winter  he  taught  a  six-months 
subscription  school  at  Holly  Spring,  a  few  miles 
from  Ramseur.  While  teaching  here  he  boarded 
with  Kindred  Craven,  which  fact  the  writer  learned 
from  the  widow  now  living  near  Climax,  and  also 
from  Henry  Craven,  now  living  one  mile  from  Ram- 
seur. The  latter  says  that  Craven  was  at  his  house 
often  while  teaching  there.  His  wife  saj^s  she  went 
to  school  with  Craven  to  Jack  Byers,  and  that  his 
clothing  w^as  often  covered  over  with  meal.  A  Sun- 
day School  was  held  in  the  school  at  Holly  Spring 
w^hile  Craven  was  teaching  there,  and  Mr.  Henry 
Craven  says  that  Braxton  would  often  repeat  a  whole 
chapter  of  the  Bible  without  looking  at  the  book. 
Sometime  before  this  Braxton  had  been  licensed  to 
exhort,  and  nearly  every  Sunday  he  preached  there 
or  at  some  other  place  of  meeting. 


36  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 


CHAPTER  VIL 

The  zealous  young  exhorter  was  regularly  licensed 
to  preach  in  1840,  at  Poplar  Springs  Church,  now  in 
the  Jonesboro  Circuit.  Although  he  had  not  yet 
made  much  of  a  reputation,  he  out-ran  the  expecta- 
tions of  his  congregations  and  he  had  a  few  staunch 
admirers. 

One  Sunday  at  a  country  gathering  he  was  called 
on  unexpectedly  to  preach,  and  not  having  an}'  Bible 
with  him  he  was  in  deep  perplexity  as  to  his  sub- 
ject and  his  text.  He  went  out  into  the  woods  and 
thought  over  a  discourse,  and  came  back  and  preached 
a  very  excellent  sermon  from  this  text:  * '  This  is  not 
my  abiding  place. ' '  He  stated  at  the  time  that  he 
couTdliarsay  exactly  in  what  part  of  the  Bible  the 
quotation  was  to  be  found.  The  following  Sundaj^ 
several  who  had  heard  him  inquired  about  that  text, 
and  the  young  exhorter  smilingly  replied  that  there 
was  no  such  text  in  the  Book. 

On  another  occasion  he  was  preaching  from  this 
text :   ' '  Shall  not  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right  ?' '  ^ 

Mr.  ,  a  very  enthusiastic  admirer  of  the  rising 

preacher,  happened  to  be  sitting  on  the  front  bench, 
and  on  this  occasion  he  was  prett}'  well  loaded  with 
Nathan  Cox' s  liquor.    Every  time  the  preacher  asked 

the  question  of  the  text,  Mr.  would  nod  his 

head  in  assent.     Finally,  when  the  preacher  reached 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  37 

a  climax  and  vehemently  exclaimed,  "  Shall  not  the 
Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right  ?' '  the  aforesaid  auditor 
arose  from  his  seat  and  exclaimed:  ' '  Yes !  yes!  If  you 
sa}'  so,  d — d  if  I  don't  see  to  it." 

The  young  exhorter  often  preached  at  Mt.  lycb- 
anon  and  spent  the  night  at  the  Branson  homestead. 

Braxton  Craven,  having  saved  up  some  money, 
decided  to  further  his  education  by  going  to  a  Qua- 
ker school  at  New  Garden,  conducted  b}^  Nereus 
Mendenhall.  Mr.  Kindred  Craven  carried  Braxton 
part  of  the  way  in  a  buggy  and  the  remainder  of  the 
journey  was  made  afoot,  with  his  bag  of  clothes  and 
a  few  books  over  his  shoulder.  His  wardrobe  at  that 
time  was  not  elaborate.  He  had  on  a  broad-brimmed 
hat  of  sheep's  wool,  a  coat  and  trousers  of  blue  jeans, 
and  a  pair  of  "stitch  down"  shoes,  made  by  sewing 
the  uppers  to  the  sole  in  a  way  that  turned  the  seams 
out  instead  of  in,  as  is  now  done.  In  his  bag  were  a 
few  shirts  and  socks  which  had  been  made  for  him 
by  Mrs.  John  Allen,  with  whom  he  had  formerly 
boarded. 

Nereus  Mendenhall  was  a  man  of  considerable  at- 
tainments and  of  devout  religious  character.  He 
was  a  graduate  of  Haverford  College  and  had  taken 
charge  of  New  Garden  school  in  1839.  While  teach- 
ing he  prepared  himself  to  enter  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1845.  He 
practiced  medicine  in  Guilford  and  Randolph,  and 
later  accepted  a  position  as  engineer  on  the  North 


38       Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

Carolina  Railroad.  Like  other  Quakers,  he  opposed 
war.  He  was  clerk  of  the  yearly  meeting  for  twelve 
years.  ^^ 

Braxton  remained  at  this  school  two  sessions,  of 
nine  months  each,  studying  Latin,  Greek,  Rhetoric, 
Philosophy,  and  so  on.  In  the  summer  vacation  he 
returned  to  Kindred  Craven's,  working  some  for 
Lawrence  Cox  and  studying  and  preaching.  His 
friends  noticed  a  decided  change  in  his  dress.  He 
now  wore  a  Quaker  coat  of  black  broadcloth  and  a 
fur  hat.  He  had  traded  clothes  with  Addison  Worth, 
one  of  his  schoolmates. 

Happening  at  Asheboro  one  day,  Mr.  Jessie 
Walker,  father  of  Mr.  J.  E.  Walker,  noticing  Brax- 
ton's improvement  in  dress,  said:  "Young  man,  I 
see  you  have  some  aspirations.  Take  this  advice: 
Don't  spend  j'our  money  on  your  back,  spend  it  on 
your  head." 

Little  is  known  of  his  life  at  this  school.  Prof. 
Johnson  says  that  he  heard  Craven  remark,  that  while 
there  he  memorized  the  whole  of  Abercrombie's  In- 
tellectual Philosophy  and  wrote  out  nearly  all  of  his 
Latin  translations. 

In  a  book  found  among  his  papers  are  eight  pages 
of  problems  in  Algebra,  including  half-dozen  pages 
of  quadratic  equations,  several  pages  of  problems  in 
surveying  and  many  miscellaneous  problems  with 
drawings.     At  the  end  of  these  problems  is  this  verse : 


♦These  facts  taken  from  a  memorial  of  Nereus  Mendenhall,  issued 
by  Deep  River  Meeting  of  Friends,  8th  February,  '94. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      39 

**  Here  my  good  fellows  you  see  I  am  through 
A  book  that  I  call  a  tough  mensuration, 
And  now  if  you  listen  I  will  tell  you  quite  true 
Some  parts  are  quite  easy  and  some  are  vexation." 

In  another  part  of  the  same  book  are  twelve  pages 
of  translations  from  Jacob's  Greek  Reader.  The 
book  is  dated  1841,  the  year  he  was  at  New  Garden. 
Another  book,  evidently  used  about  the  same  time, 
contains  a  chronological  history  of  Ital}^ 


40      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Having  completed  his  course  at  New  Garden,  Mr. 
Craven,  then  19  3'ears  old,  accepted  a  position  as 
assistant  teacher  at  Union  Institute,  Randolph  county. 
The  school  was  then  conducted  in  a  small  house,  near 
the  site  of  the  present  college  buildings,  and  was 
under  the  control  of  the  "  Union  Institute  Society," 
composed  of  ' '  all  male  parents  or  guardians  who  may 
send  children  or  wards  to  this  institute,  and  all  stu- 
dents in  the  same  of  the  age  of  18  3'ears."  In  a 
book  containing  the  minutes  of  the  association  are 
names  of  the  following  gentlemen,  attached  to  the 
constitution:  Wm.  English,  Jabez  Leach,  Kelly  John- 
son, Sam'l  W.  Blair,  John  S.  Brown,  Lewis  Leach, 
^neas  Elder,  Zebadee  Johnson,  Ahijah  Smith,  J. 
M.  Leach,  Hugh  Leach,  Jas.  Leach,  Brantly  York, 
Joseph  Johnson,  John  English,  Lindsaj'  Lamar,  Ahi 
Robbins,  Joseph  Mendenhall,  Absalom  Leach,  Alex- 
ander Robbins  and  Pat.  Hoover. 

The  minutes  of  March  16,  1839,  state  that  a  com- 
mittee consisting  of  Messrs.  Lewis  M.  Leach,  Joseph 
Johnson  and  Wm.  English,  appointed  to  confer  with 
Rev.  B.  York  in  reference  to  taking  charge  of  the 
school,  reported:  "That  the  said  Mr.  York  would 
teach  school  one  year  for  $200,  the  employers  find 
a  house  for  him  to  live  in,  find  fire-wood  for  him  to 
burn,  and  find  an  assistant."     The  society  resolved 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      41 

"to  employ  him,  the  said  Mr.  York,  for  their  teacher 
the  next  year,"  At  the  May  meeting  a  committee 
of  five  was  appointed  to  devise  plans  for  a  new  build- 
ing. Julian  E.  Leach  and  J.  M.  B.  Leach*  were 
asked  to  address  a  public  meeting  on  July  4th,  next — 
the  first  on  American  Independence,  and  the  latter 
on  Education. 

Shortly  after  the  4th  of  July  meeting,  a  commodi- 
ous frame  building  was  erected.  The  brick  were 
made  and  burned  on  the  present  campus,  and  the 
lumber  hauled  by  Joseph  Johnson  from  the  saw  mill 
of  Absalom  Grimes,  at  Hamby's  Creek,  in  David- 
son county,  a  distance  of  about  twelve  miles.  B. 
Craven  was  elected  teacher  February  14,  1842.  He 
rode  on  horseback  part  of  the  way  from  New  Garden 
and  walked  the  remainder.  Mr.  Tom  English  hap- 
pened to  be  riding  along  that  way  and  he  and  Craven 
traveled  by  "riding  and  tying;"  that  is,  one  of  them 
would  ride  ahead,  dismount,  hitch  the  horse  to  a 
tree  and  walk  on,  while  the  other,  coming  behind, 
would  mount  the  horse,  pass  ahead  of  the  pedestrian, 
and  so  on.  Braxton  had  a  small  trunk  w^hich  was 
brought  over  in  a  wagon  several  days  later. 

He  wore  a  wool  hat  and  a  quaker  coat  of  a  brown 
color.  His  face  was  clean  shaven  and  youthful  in 
appearance.  The  first  night  on  his  arrival  he  spent 
with   Mr.    York,   who  lived    in   a  small  log  house 

*This  was  the  Jas.  Madison  I,each,  afterwards  so  celebrated  in  State 
campaigns. 


42      Life  of  Braxtox  Craven. 

east  of  the  present  buildings.  The  next  morning 
Craven  arose  before  York,  and  not  finding  a  looking- 
glass  in  the  room,  he  went  out  in  the  yard  where 
there  was  a  large  tub  of  water  and  used  that  for  his 
mirror.  At  that  time  there  were  very  few  residences 
in  the  community.  Among  them  were  those  of  James 
Leach,  Jos.  Mendenhall  and  Brantley  York.  Brax- 
ton made  arrangements  to  board  with  Joseph  Men- 
denhall, who  lived  in  a  log  house  having  two  rooms 
on  the  ground  floor  and  one  above  and  a  small  room 
at  the  end  of  the  back  porch.  The  building  stood 
where  the  present  Lore  house  is.  The  price  paid 
was  $3.50  per  month.  The  chimney  was  an  old- 
fashioned  one,  built  of  rocks.  The  fire-place  was 
ten  feet  wude  and  so  high  that  one  could  stand  up  in 
it  and  see  out  at  the  top.  In  the  back  of  the  fire- 
place was  a  large  triangular-shaped  rock.  The  house 
was  surrounded  by  elms,  ~  walnuts  and  copals.  In 
the  rear  was  an  orchard.  Braxton  occupied  the  little 
room  on  the  porch.  He  slept  upon  a  home-made 
bed,  the  mattress  of  which  rested  upon  ropes.  There 
was  one  small  window  in  the  room,  and  a  shelf  upon 
which  were  kept  his  books,  clothing,  etc.  His  name 
was  written  all  over  the  walls.  The  cooking  was 
done  in  the  fire-place,  the  chief  utensils  being  a 
bake-oven,  which  was  hung  upon  an  iron  bar,  and  a 
frying-pan.  Joseph  Mendenhall' s  daughter,  now 
Mrs.  Linthicom,  furnished  these  facts  for  the  writer. 
She  often  patched  or  mended  Braxton's  clothes.  One 
day,  as  he  was  going  on  horseback  to  a   religious 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      43 

meeting  near  High  Point,  she  patched  the  elbow  of 
his  coat  sleeve.  She  had  man}^  times  darned  his 
socks.  He  studied  by  fire-light  on  winter  nights, ' 
and  in  the  summer  by  tallow  candles.  Joseph  Men- 
denhall  made  a  table  for  him  which  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Pegram.  Young 
Craven  entered  enthusiastically  into  the  work  of 
teaching.  After  working  as  assistant  for  two  years, 
Dr.  York  retired  and  Craven  was  elected  to  take  his 
place.  Mrs.  Nancy  Leach  says  he  ' '  blushed  terri- 
bly ' '  when  told  by  James  Leach  that  he  had  been 
elected  principal  of  the  school.  *  *  The  salary  for  the 
first  year  was  $200  guaranteed  and  as  much  more  as 
the  school  might  earn;  the  total  income  was  some- 
thing less  than  $300.  After  that  no  salary  was 
pledged,  the  principal  paying  all  expenses,  fixing 
his  own  terms  and  regulations,  and  receiving  the 
whole  income."* 

Prof.  Johnson  says  :  "  B.  Craven  soon  announced 
that  he  would  teach  a  night  school  free.  Myself, 
then  13  3^ears  of  age,  and  several  others  went  until 
we  mastered  all  mensuration — the  computation  of  all 
surfaces,  solids,  &c.  All  those  subjects  have  been 
no  trouble  since. ' ' 

Rev.  Brantley  York  afterwards  wrote  and  pub- 
lished a  work  on  ' '  English  Grammar, ' '  and  was 
elected  Professor  of  Logic  and  Rhetoric  at  Ruther- 
ford College. 

*  From  a  sketch  in  Dr.  Craven's  own  handwriting  found  among  his 
manuscripts. 


44  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"I  have  seen  a  very  poor  young  man  in  love.  His  hat 
was  old,  his  coat  worn  and  out  at  the  elbows  ;  the  water 
passed  through  his  shoes  and  the  stars  through  his  soul." 

— Victor  Hugo. 

Prof.  Craven  was  boarding  with  Joseph  Menden- 
hall,  when  an  incident  happened  which  led  to  his 
marriage  to  Miss  Irene  Leach,  eldest  daughter  of 
Mr.  James  Leach.  One  of  the  students,  Mr.  Gar- 
ner, who  boarded  with  Tom  English  at  the  present 
Gannawa}'  place,  w^as  ver}^  ill  and  Prof.  Craven  was 
a  constant  attendant  at  his  bedside.  The  Professor 
had  learned  something  of  medicine  from  his  in- 
structor, Nereus  Mendenhall,  and  was  a  tender  and 
S3^mpathetic  nurse.  One  night  Miss  Irene  Leach 
was  there,  by  request,  to  relieve  the  household. 
Although  she  had  been  one  of  York's  pupils  for  a 
3'ear  or  more,  and  had  taught  in  the  school  five  months 
before  young  Craven  came  to  the  place,  they  had 
not  met  each  other  until  that  night.  Miss  Leach 
was  then  about  i8  years  old.  She  was  rather  spare 
in  stature,  having  raven-black  hair  and  soft  gray  eyes, 
which  contrasted  well  with  her  delicate  white  com- 
plexion and  rosy  cheeks.  There  was  a  beauty  in 
her  face  which  is  only  seen  among  women  in  rural 
communities;  a  beauty  which  belongs  to  innocence. 


Life  of  Braxtox  Craven.      45 

modesty  and  absolute  artlessness.  The  movement 
of  her  eyes  and  lips,  and  the  whisper  of  her  voice, 
evinced  that  simplicit}^  and  sincerity  which  betoken 
absence  of  self-consciousness.  She  saw  in  her  pres- 
ence the  figure  of  a  3^oung  man  of  robust  and  solid 
physique,  with  a  head  and  bearing  that  indicated 
power,  and  eyes  of  restless  brilliancy.  In  this  first 
meeting  there  was  little  conversation.  Only  a  few  . 
words  were  spoken,  such  as  the  duties  of  the  occa^ 
sion  demanded.  But  perhaps  they  comrnunicated  in 
silence  more  than  either  was  aware  of.  Miss  Leach 
saw  in  him  the  elements  of  great  power  which  phi- 
j  losophers  tell  us  are  the  qualities  most  attractive  to 
women.  He  saw  in  her  the  deep  sincerity  and  trust- 
ing eyes  which  philosophers  tell  us  are  most  attrac- 
tive to  men.  Love-making  is  not  alone  by  words  and 
phrases.  It  has  a  language  which  is  silent,  but  at 
the  same  time  capable  of  easy  interpretation.  Words 
only  facilitate,  or,  at  best,  serve  as  a  seal  to  the  con- 
tract after  the  confession  is  made. 

Prof.  Craven  and  Miss  Leach  found  many  excuses 
for  being  together  after  this  formal  introduction. 
The  country  church  was  five  or  six  miles  distant. 
Some  of  the  people  of  the  community  went  on  horse- 
back and  others  walked.  Miss  Leach  being  a  good 
rider,  (she  had  several  times  gone  alone  to  the  mill), 
usually  went  on  horseback.  Prof.  Craven  some- 
times rode  on  horseback,  but  more  frequently  footed 
it.     Whether  riding  or  walking,  he  managed  to  keep 


46      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

in  sight  of  ]Miss  Leach.  Miss  Mendenhall,  now  Mrs. 
Linthicom,  daughter  of  Mr.  Joseph  Mendenhall,  with 
whom  Prof.  Craven  was  then  boarding,  states  that 
the  latter  often  preached  at  different  countr}-  gather- 
ings, and  that  he  would  leave  the  house  in  the  fore- 
noon on  Sundays,  taking  his  dinner  along,  and  not 
return  until  late  in  the  evenings.  Many  of  the  women, 
she  says,  walked  to  these  meetings  barefooted,  carry- 
ing their  shoes  in  their  hands  and  putting  them  on  just 
before  entering  the  church.  By  the  way,  has  not 
our  race  lost  something  in  hardihood  by  abandoning 
the  old  custom  of  going  barefooted  ?  What  has  been 
gained  in  health  or  aesthetic  effect  by  swaddling  the 
feet. in  cloth  and  leather? 

Prof.  Craven  and  Miss  Leach  walked  together 
many  afternoons.  Once  they  went  on  horseback  to 
a  wedding  eight  miles  distant,  and  on  several  occa- 
sions made  trips  to  Jamestown!  On  September  26th, 
1844,  about  a  5^ear  and  a  half  from  their  first  meet- 
ing, they  w^ere  united  in  marriage.  The  ceremony 
was  performed  by  Rev.  W.  S.  Chappin,  at  the  resi- 
dence of  the  bride's  parents. 

The  event  took  place  '  *  at  candle  light. ' '  There 
were  several  waiters  in  attendance,  and  among  them 
Jackson  Craven,  one  of  Prof.  Craven's  friends  from 
the  lower  part  of  the  county,  where  he  was  raised: 
also  Nathan  Garner,  father  of  the  student  whose  ill- 
ness occasioned  the  first  meeting  of  Prof.  Craven  and 
Miss  Leach.     The  attendants  stood  in  a  circle  around 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      47 

the  room,  and  the  bride  and  groom  and  preacher  in 
the  centre.  The  groom  was  dressed  in  a  blue  '  *  hawk- 
tail  coat ' '  and  black  satin  vest.  The  coat  was  short 
in  front,  somewhat  like  the  modern  vest,  with  two 
narrow  strips,  each  about  five  inches  wide  and  eigh- 
teen inches  long,  hanging  down  behind,  forming  the 
tail.  His  pants  were  made  of  dark  wool  cloth, 
having  straps  run  under  his  shoes,  and  buttoned  at 
the  bottom  of  each  trouser,  to  hold  them  down. 
Pants  in  those  da3^s  would  bag  at  the  knee  or  rise 
upon  the  slightest  provocation.  His  neck  was  buried 
in  a  large  white  collar,  which,  being  attached  to  his 
shirt,  folded  over  a  high  ' '  neck  stock. ' '  The  ' '  neck 
stock ' '  was  a  stiff  cloth  ' '  contraption  ' '  designed  to 
take  the  place  of  starch.  The  large  collar  folded 
over  it  in  a  way  that  obscured  it  from  view.  His 
shoes  were  home-made  "welted,"  the  seam  fasten- 
ing the  sole  to  the  upper  being  turned  in  instead  of 
out,  as  was  the  shoe  for  every-da\^  w^ear.  He  had  a 
tall  new  beaver  hat,  which  he  was  ready  and  perhaps 
anxious  to  put  on.  The  other  gentlemen  were  dressed 
pretty  much  like  the  groom,  excepting  Mr.  Jackson 
Craven,  who  was  splurging  in  a  gray  * '  hawk  tail ' ' 
and  white  beaver  hat.  The  bride  was  dressed  in  a 
sky  blue  ' '  drawed  back ' '  waist,  so  called  from  being 
fastened  behind,  and  made  of  "tissue  cloth,"  a  sort 
of  combination  of  wool  and  silk.  The  sleeves  were 
tight,  and  the  skirt  plain  and  straight.  She  wore  a 
purple  wool  hat,  having  a  long- protruding  brim  and 


48       Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

low  flat  crown,  with  very  few  "fixings."  Some  of 
the  lady  attendants  were  dressed  in  blue  homespun 
and  others  in  figured  calico.  At  the  conclusion  of 
the  ceremony,  supper  was  served,  consisting  of 
chicken,  mutton,  beef,  cake,  pies,  fruit  and  coffee. 

After  the  guests  dispersed,  the  '  'bell' '  party  stealth- 
il}'  assembled  in  the  yard,  (made  up  of  all  the  bo3's  in 
the  community  who  hadn't  been  invited  to  the  wed- 
ding). The3^  brought  along  dinner-horns,  cow-bells, 
sheep-bells,  tin-pans,  and  other  instruments  of  tor- 
ture. One  of  these  instruments  was  called  the 
"dumb-bull."  It  was  a  tin  can  with  a  raw-hide 
stretched  over  one  end  and  a  rosined  string  run 
through  the  center  of  the  hide.  By  pulling  the 
string  rapidly  through  the  hide,  a  noise  would  be 
produced,  the  most  horrible  known  to  human  ear. 
At  a  given  signal  all  the  instruments  broke  forth 
into  a  hideous  medley,  which  was  kept  up  a  good 
portion  of  the  night. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  49 


CHAPTER  X. 

What  tho'  on  hamely  fare  we  dine, 

Wear  hodden-grey,  and  a'  that, 
Gie  fools  their  silks,  and  knaves  their  wine, 

A  man's  a  man,  for  a'  that  : 
For  a'  that,  and  a'  that. 

Their  tinsel  show  and  a'  that, 
The  honest  man,  tho'  e'er  sae  poor, 

Is  king  o'  men  for  a'  that. 

— Robert  Burns. 

The  newl3^-wedded  couple  resided  at  the  home  of 
the  bride's  parents  for  several  months. 

A  few  weeks  after  Prof.  Craven  left  the  Menden- 
hall  family  Mr.  Mendenhall  became  ill.  Prof.  Cra- 
ven was  a  frequent  visitor  at  the  old  man's  bedside, 
and  was  present  and  holding  his  hand  when  the  last 
breath  was  breathed.  Several  days  after  the  inter- 
ment Craven  returned  to  the  place  and  cut,  raked 
and  shocked  a  field  of  hay,  as  a  favor  to  the  widow 
and  daughter.  Mrs.  Linthicom,  daughter  of  Mr. 
Mendenhall,  furnished  these  facts  for  the  writer. 
She  is  still  living,  though  blind. 

Professor  and  Mrs.  Craven,  about  the  first  of  Jan- 
uary, set  up  house-keeping  in  a  two-room  log  cabin, 
located  within  a  stone's  throw  of  the  present  college, 
to  the  northeast.  One  room  was  used  as  a  sleeping 
apartment  and  the  other  for  cooking  and  general 


50      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

rendezvous.  There  was  no  stove,  and  the  cooking 
was  done  in  the  old-fashioned  way  in  skillets,  ovens 
and  pans.  The  dinner  table  was  made  of  pine  wood, 
covered  over  with  oilcloth.  The  commonest  table- 
ware was  used,  such  as  black-handled  knives  and 
forks,  heav}'  crock  plates  and  cups.  Table-board 
was  furnished  for  eight  or  ten  students.  Mrs.  Cra- 
ven was  assisted  in  her  work  by  a  hired  negro  girl, 
and  later  by  a  white  girl.  A  little  shed  on  the  back 
of  the  house  served  as  a  pantry.  Water  was  ob- 
tained from  a  spring  below  the  house.  Prof.  Craven 
cut  the  firewood  in  the  afternoons. 

The  sleeping  apartment  was  supplied  with  the 
simplest  furnishings.  The  floor  was  bare.  The  two 
small  windows  were  without  curtains  or  blinds.  The 
bed  was  built  of  pine,  which  had  received  a  coat  of 
brown  paint.  There  was  a  neat  bureau  in  one  cor- 
ner, which  was  the  gift  of  the  wife's  mother.  A 
small  table  behind  the  door  served  as  a  washstand, 
on  which  was  a  bucket  and  tin  vessel.  The  first 
rocking  chair  brought  into  the  house  was  one  which 
Prof.  Craven  purchased  from  an  old  darkey  some 
months  after  the  marriage.  The  first  child,  Emma, 
was  born  in  this  cabin.  After  living  here  two  years. 
Prof.  Craven  purchased  a  farm  southeast  of  the  in- 
stitute. For  a  while  he  lived  on  this  farm  in  a  log 
house,  but  soon  built  a  two-story  frame  building, 
which  now  constitutes  the  rear  part  of  the  Ganna- 
way  house.     Here  he  raised  provisions  and   some 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.       51 

stock.  The  first  thing  he  did  on  rising  in  the  morn- 
ing was  to  go  immediately  to  the  barn  to  feed. 
However,  he  was  not  an  early  riser,  as  he  usually 
kept  late  hours  at  night.  He  made  it  a  rule  never 
to  study  before  breakfast,  but  his  mind  never  rested 
at  any  other  portion  of  the  day.  He  read  Rollin's 
history  through  the  second  time,  in  going  to  and 
from  the  college,  a  distance  of  half  mile.  He  was 
assisted  in  the  farm  work  by  a  hired  negro  man, 
while  Mrs.  Craven  was  assisted  in  her  work  by  a 
negro  girl. 

Besides  these  helps,  other  servants  were  employed 
from  time  to  time,  one  of  them,  a  negro  man,  who 
ran  away  and  carried  with  him  the  keys  of  the  insti- 
tute. The  second  child,  James,  was  born  at  this 
place.  Prof.  Craven  was  very  fond  of  his  children, 
and  helped  to  nurse  them,  especially  when  they  were 
sick.  It  was  his  practice  to  hold  family  prayers  at 
night.  He  kept  a  horse  and  buggy,  and  often  took 
the  family  to  ride.  He  liked  fier}^  steeds,  and  always 
drove  at  a  rapid  rate. 


52  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 


CHAPTER  XL 

^'^  "In  January,  1851,  the  institution  was  rechar- 
tered  by  the  Legislature,  and  was  named  Normal 
College.  The  chief  intent  of  this  change  was  to 
secure  a  higher  grade  of  teachers  for  common  and 
higher  schools,  and  to  furnish  a  better  guarantee  of 
their  acquirements  and  qualifications  than  could  be 
done  b}'  the  ill-prepared  and  unpaid  boards  of  exam- 
iners in  the  different  counties. 

' '  By  the  charter  the  certificate  of  the  college  was 
made  lawful  evidence  of  qualification  to  teach,  and 
no  further  examination  was  required.  The  good 
sought  was  to  some  extent  realized,  but  the  influ- 
ence upon  the  institution  was  exceedingly'  injurious, 
and  continued  long  after  to  effect  its  fortunes  ad- 
versely. Young  men  with  a  mere  elementary  edu- 
cation, with  little  mental  development  or  discipline, 
and  often  without  those  social  influences  that  are  the 
best  foundation  for  elegant  culture,  went  forth  bear- 
ing a  Normal  certificate  and  authorized  to  teach  any 
common  school  in  the  State. 

' '  Coming  from  an  institution  having  the  name  of 
a  college,  they  were  unjustly  but  generally  compared 
witli  the  regularly  educated  students  of  other  col- 
leges, frequently  with  damaging  and  sometimes  with 


*Continuation  of  the  sketch  by  Dr.  Craveu. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  53 

destructive  effect.  These  crude  young  teachers, 
having  generally  no  higher  ambition  than  to  teach 
a  few  terms  of  a  country  primary  school,  and  some- 
times not  even  qualified  for  that,  could  not  pretend 
adequately  to  represent  either  the  scholarship  or  cul- 
ture of  the  institution.  An  equitable  criticism  could 
not  have  pretended  that  they  were  exponents  of 
Normal.  Yet  such  affirmations  were  unsparingly 
made  and  emphasized,  both  by  those  who  knew  bet- 
ter and  those  who  did  not. 

''The  exclusive  Normal  feature  was  unfortunate, 
and  it  required  years  of  toil  and  patience  to  overcome 
the  evil.  The  same  misfortune  still  applies  to  the 
preparatory  department  in  Trinity.  Many  students 
never  engage  in  any  but  primary  studies.  Before 
these  are  completed  they  either  so  fail  as  to  justify 
their  discontinuance,  or  are  forced  by  other  circum- 
stances to  leave  the  institution;  yet  they  are  some- 
times referred  to  as  samples  of  Trinity's  best  culture. 
Since  185 1  not  one-tenth  of  the  matriculates  have 
graduated;  3^et  all  are  called  Trinity  students,  the 
failures  equally  with  the  successes.  The  only  fair 
estimate  is  to  compare  Trinity  students,  grade  for 
grade,  with  others,  and  on  this  basis  Trinity  will 
have  high  position." 

The  Columbian  Literary  Society  was  organized  in 
1846  and  the  Hesperian  Society  in  1850.  Mr.  J.  W. 
Alspaugh  was  a  prime  mover  in  the  latter  Society, 
and  was  very  active  in  securing  books  for  the  young 


54      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

library,  then  in  its  infancy.      By  this  time  the  col- 
lege had  entered  upon  an  era  of  great  prosperit}'. 

^"From  1843  to  1850  the  gross  income  varied 
from  $300  to  §1,800,  making  a  general  average  of 
about  $1,200.  The  number  of  students  that  matric- 
ulated annually  during  this  time  varied  from  28  to 
184,  the  general  average  being  about  105.  The 
amount  of  earnings  lost  during  these  seven  years 
was  §980,  an  average  of  $140  per  annum;  the  amount 
given  to  indigent  young  men  was  $1,570,  giving  an 
annual  average  of  a  little  more  than  $224.  The 
number  of  conversions  at  the  various  religious  ser- 
vices in  the  Academy  during  the  seven  years  was 
about  300;  the  number  expelled  from  the  school  was 
8,  and  the  number  of  deaths  was  4.  During  this 
time  the  school  became  very  popular,  and  though 
difficult  of  access,  was  patronized  by  nearly  all  parts 
of  this  State,  and  largely  from  Virginia  and  South 
Carolina.  The  moral  character  of  the  Academy  was 
eminently  good,  and  the  young  men  then  educated 
have  been  marked  for  their  usefulness  and  worth  as 
citizens." 

While  imparting  knowledge  to  others.  Prof.  Cra- 
ven was  feeding  his  own  mind  by  constant  study. 
He  had  an  impressible,  comprehensive  and  retentive 
mind,  and  he  needed  to  see  a  thing  only  once  to  un- 
derstand and  remember  it.  The  facility  with  which 
he  mastered  the  various  branches  of  learning,  made 

*Continuation  of  Dr.  Craven's  sketch. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.       55 

the  pursuit  of  them  a  fascinating  labor.  It  was  sel- 
dom that  he  retired  before  midnight.  He  continued 
his  study  of  Greek,  Latin  and  Hebrew.  He  read 
and  digested  books  on  biology,  botany,  zoology, 
chemistry,  geology,  mytholog}^,  philosophy,  law, 
and  political  economy.  He  was  especially  apt  in 
mathematics,  and  spent  much  time  in  working  and 
writing  out  problems  in  trigonometry  and  calculus. 
Among  the  works  which  he  left  in  his  librarj^  is  a 
book  of  some  fifty  or  more  pages  containing  problems 
that  he  had  worked  in  calculus. 

In  addition  to  these  pursuits  he  read  a  good  deal 
of  history,  such  as  Gibbon's  History  of  Rome,  and 
Hume' s  History  of  England.  At  an  early  age  he  had 
read  all  of  Scott's  and  Cooper's  novels.  Scott  was 
his  favorite  romancer,  and  his  wife  says  that  he  read 
with  such  speed  that  he  annoyed  her  b}'  turning  over 
the  leaves.  He  had  also  read  Milton,  Shakespeare, 
Dickens,  Byron,  Burns,  %ulwer,  Irving  and  many 
books  of  travels. 

In  1850,  Prof.  Craven  desiring  to  obtain  a  degree, 
asked  permission  to  stand  an  examination  for  a 
diploma  at  Randolph  Macon  College.  The  request 
was  granted,  however,  not  without  some  reluctance. 
The  examination  was  not  at  all  superficial  In  Greek 
he  was  tested  on  the  6th  book  of  Homer's  Iliad,  and 
in  Mathematics  he  was  required  to  work  a  number 
of  intricate  problems  in  calculus.  He  got  into  a  con- 
troversy wath  the  examiner  on  one  of  the  problems, 
and    after    considerable    wrangling    the    examiner 


56       Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

ackowledged  that  the  problem  jvas  correctly  solved. 
The  degree  was  conferred.  The  following  year  the 
degree  of  A.  M.  was  conferred  b}^  the  Universlty^f 
North  Carolina^  ^ 

He  was  ordained  Deacon  at  Louisburg,  by  Bishop 
Capers,  in  1852,  and  Elder  at  Greensboro,  Novem- 
ber, 1856,  b}'  Bishop  Earl3^  Later  he  received  the 
degree  of  D.  D.  from  Andrew  College,  Tennessee, 
and  LL.  D.  from  the  University  of  Missouri. 

^"At  the  Salisbury  session  of  the  North  Carolina 
Conference,  in  1851,  the  first  connection  between  the 
College  and  the  Conference  was  effected.  The  Trus- 
tees made  propositions  to  the  Conference  which  were 
accepted.  The  College  was  to  educate  young  men 
preparing  for  the  ministry  without  charge,  and  the 
Conference  endorsed  the  College  and  annually  ap- 
pointed a  visiting  committee.  This  relation  gave  the 
Conference  neither  ownership  nor  control,  but  inau- 
gurated a  mutual  co-operation  that  was  eminentl}'' 
beneficial. 

"In  1853,  the  charter  was  amended  giving  the 
College  full  power  to  confer  any  and  all  degrees  and 
do  all  other  acts  usual  to  literar}^  institutions  of  high 
grade.  This  was  really  its  commencement  as  a  Col- 
lege, and  from  that  time  till  the  war,  its  success  was 
steadily  onward. 

' '  The  amended  charter  directed  the  Literary  Board 
of  the  State  to  loan    the    Trustees   $10,000    upon 

♦Continuation  of  Dr.  Craven's  sketch. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      57 

execution  of  an  acceptable  bond  for  the  same.  To 
procure  proper  securities  for  that  amount,  with  no 
available  property  as  a  guarantee,  and  no  person  giv- 
ing the  matter  any  consideration  except  the  Presi- 
dent, was  a  work  of  great  difficulty.  The  Trustees 
assumed  no  personal  responsibility;  they  simply  ex- 
ecuted the  ordinary  routine  official  work.  For  some- 
time it  appeared  that  the  loan  could  not  be  secured. 
Finalh*  Hon.  John  A.  Gilmer,  then  a  Trustee,  and 
one  of  the  most  active  and  efficient  friends  the  insti- 
tution had  in  these  days  of  darkness,  proposed  to 
sign  the  bond,  provided  the  President  would  sign  it, 
and  procure  the  signatures  of  five  other  responsible 
gentlemen.  The  other  signers  were  obtained,  the 
money  secured  and  suitable  buildings  were  erected. 
(The  first  brick  building,  now  known  as  the  old  part 
of  the  College,  was  erected  with  this  money. )  Up  to 
that  time  the  College  lived  and  flourished  with  the 
most  inferior  and  inefficient  buildings  and  accommo- 
dations. ' ' 


58  Life  of  Braxtox  Craven. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

In  1853  Prof.  Craven  sold  his  farm  and  built  a 
new  home  on  some  land  given  by  Mr.  James  Leach 
adjoining  the  campus.  During  the  erection  of  the 
building,  he  lived  in  a  two-room  house  behind  the 
new  one.  His  new  residence,  a  sketch  of  which  is 
here  presented,  was  his  home  until  he  died.  Here 
were  born  to  him  two  other  children,  William  and 
Catherine.     Soon   after   coming   to   this   house  he 


RESIDENCE  OF  DR.  CRAVEN  AT  TRINITY  COLLEGE. 

bought  a  negro  slave,  Isum,  and  retained  him  two 
years  after  the  war.  He  also  bought  two  women. 
Dinah  and  Ann;  the  latter,  then  fourteen  years  old, 
remained  with  the  family  five  years  after  the  sur- 
render. 

He  continued  to  farm  at  his  new  place,  raising  a 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      59 

few  staples,  some  stock,  chickens  and  vegetables. 
He  was  very  fond  of  animals  of  all  sorts  and  espe- 
cially dogs.  One  summer  afternoon,  during  a  severe 
storm,  he  was  sitting  tilted  back  in  a  cane-bottom 
chair  reading  a  book,  when  a  heavy  clap  of  thunder 
frightened  his  dog  and  caused  it  to  run  in  the  house 
and  under  the  Doctor's  chair,  which  upset  and  sent 
him  sprawling  upon  the  floor. 

In  1853,  several  years  after  the  institute  was 
changed  to  a  college.  Prof.  Craven  went  on  a  trip  to 
New  York  to  purchase  supplies  of  books,  stationery, 
and  other  things  necessary  for  the  school.  Prior  to 
this  time  he  had  never  been  outside  of  the  State, 
although  he  had  been  to  Raleigh  and  Fayetteville. 

His  wife  accompanied  him  on  this  trip.  They 
traveled  in  a  private  conveyance  to  Dr.  Coffin's, 
which  is  now  Jamestown,  stopping  there  for  dinner. 
Here  they  were  joined  by  Mrs.  Coffin,  who  was 
going  on  to  see  her  daughter,  then  in  Philadelphia, 
and  also  by  Zimri  Coffin,  a  photographer  by  profes- 
sion, and  a  great  friend  of  Prof.  Craven.  Zimri  was 
a  particularly  good  companion  to  have  along,  for  he 
was  a  close  observer  and  a  lively  and  witty  conver- 
sationalist. He  was  a  great  jester  and  story  teller, 
and  he  found  in  Prof.  Craven  a  keen  appreciation  of 
his  peculiar  genius.  The  party  proceeded  to  Greens- 
boro in  the  afternoon,  where  they  remained  until  two 
o'clock  next  morning.  Then  taking  a  four-horse 
stage,  they  proceeded  on  their  journey,  stopping  at 


6o       Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

Mc Adams,  near  Danville,  for  breakfast,  and  cross- 
ing the  river,  proceeded  to  Keysville,  where  they 
boarded  the  train  for  Washington.  The  party  spent 
a  day  in  Washington,  visiting  the  Capitol,  White 
House,  and  other  public  buildings.  The  next  day 
they  arrived  in  Philadelphia.  Mrs.  Coffin  and  Zimri 
stopped  with  a  relative,  Stephen  Coffin,  a  merchant 
of  that  city;  Prof.  Craven  and  wife  stopped  at  a 
hotel.  The  latter  two  were  invited  to  dine  with 
Stephen  Coifin  on  the  da^^  after  their  arrival.  The 
party,  engineered  by  Zimri,  "took  in  the  town." 
They  visited  the  park,  Laurel  Hill  cemeter}-,  the 
water  works,  fire  department,  Girard  College,  and 
other  places  of  interest.  Prof.  Craven  had  been 
wearing  on  this  trip  a  beaver  hat  and  white  necktie, 
but  knowing  that  clerg37men  were  not  allowed  to 
enter  Girard  College,  he  put  on  a  black  cravat  as  a 
ruse  for  this  occasion.  They  also  visited  Ruth  Jess, 
who  made  Quaker  bonnets  for  the  Friends  in  North 
Carolina.  At  night  they  all  attended  a  ministrel 
show  at  one  of  the  theatres. 

Mrs.  Coffin,  her  daughter,  and  Zimri,  went  with 
Prof.  Craven  and  wife  to  New  York  City.  Prof. 
Cra\'en  made  most  of  his  purchases  from  Ivenson  & 
Finley.  While  in  the  city  they  visited  many  places 
of  interest.  Among  the  incidents  of  the  trip,  it  is 
recalled  that  Zimri,  happening  to  run  short  of  cash, 
replenished  his  purse  by  taking  a  few  chances  at  a 
faro  bank,   and  that  Prof.    Craven,   while  walking 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  6i 

down  Broadway,  saw  a  society  woman  shot  to  death 
in  the  street. 

Professor  and  Mrs.  Craven  returned  home  by  rail 
to  Weldon,  and  thence  via  stage  through  Hillsboro 
to  a  point  on  the  road  about  eight  miles  from  Trin- 
ity, where  they  were  met  by  a  private  conveyance, 
which  carried  them  back  to  the  college. 

Dr.  Craven  was  a  model  husband,  and  has  set  a 
good  example  for  others.  He  was  always  attentive 
and  devoted  to  his  wife.  He  seldom  made  a  trip 
anywhere  without  inviting  her  to  go  with  him.  She 
accompanied  him  to  New  York  City,  and  later  to 
Washington,  once  to  the  General  Conference  at  At- 
lanta, and  quite  often  to  the  District  and  State  Con- 
ferences. He  disHked  solitude  at  any  time,  and  even 
when  he  went  fishing  he  insisted  upon  her  going 
along,  which  she  often  did,  sitting  on  the  bank 
knitting  while  he  was  pulling  in  the  fish. 


62      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

'^  "  In  1856  the  Trustees  again  made  propositions 
to  the  Conference,  which  were  accepted.  By  this 
arrangement  the  property  was  transferred  to  the 
Conference,  and  the  Conference,  through  Trustees  of 
its  own  election,  had  full  control.  The  transfer  was 
not  fully  effected  until  1858,  and  in  1859,  by  an  Act 
of  the  Legislature,  the  college  was  fully  and  finally 
vested  in  the  Conference,  with  all  the  rights  and 
privileges  usual  in  such  cases.  By  the  same  Legis- 
lative act  the  name  was  changed  to  Trinity. 

*  *  From  the  commencement  till  this  time  the  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State  was  ex  officio  President  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  and  the  superintendent  of  the  common 
schools  was  Secretary,  thus  connecting  the  college 
with  the  State.  By  the  Act  of  1859,  this  connection 
was  severed,  all  Normal  features  annulled,  and  the 
institution  became  a  regular  denominational  college, 
belonging  to  the  North  Carolina  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South." 

Col.  J.  \V.  i\lspaugh,  a  staunch  supporter  and  de- 
voted friend  of  Dr.  Craven,  advised  him  not  to  turn 
over  the  property  to  the  Conference,  for  the  reason 
that  it  was  the  product  of  his  own  labor,  and  in  case 
of  his  death  none  of  it  would  be  available  for  his 
widow  and  children.     According  to   Dr.   Craven's 

*  Continuation  of  Dr.  Craven's  sketch. 


LiFK  OF  Braxton  Cravkn.      63 

report  to  the  Conference,  the  College  building, 
grounds,  apparatus,  libraries,  etc. ,  at  the  time  were 
worth  $30,000.  However,  Dr.  Craven,  being  very 
hopeful  of  the  future,  thought  that  by  turning  over 
the  property  to  the  Conference  greater  interest  would 
be  taken  in  the  institution,  leading  to  the  erection  of 
more  buildings  and  securing  a  handsome  endowment. 

^  "  From  1853  to  1859,  the  average  number  of  ma- 
triculations was  187  ;  the  average  gross  income  about 
$5 ,  000.  The  losses  for  six  years  were  $  i ,  340 ,  an  aver- 
age of  $223  per  annum.  The  gratuitous  tuitions 
afforded  amounted  to  $2,700,  an  annual  average  of 
$450.  During  this  period  of  six  years  the  number 
of  deaths  was  five;  expulsions  eight;  number  of  con- 
versions 360,  and  so  far  as  known  284  joined  the  M. 
E.  Church,  South,  and  16  joined  other  churches. 
This  period  embraced  the  whole  of  the  Normal  his- 
tory, was  marked  by  fierce  opposition  from  adherents 
to  old  opinions  and  ideas ;  had  as  yet  no  force  of 
alumni  to  defend  and  sustain  it,  and  could  really  rest 
upon  nothing  but  merit.  The  Conference  was  divided 
in  favor,  a  part  of  the  members  naturally  adhering 
to  older  institutions  and  associations,  and  hence  Nor- 
mal as  the  college  was  then  called,  had  a  hard  but 
victorious  life. 

"  From  1859  to  1862  the  average  number  of  mat- 
riculations annually  was  204;  the  gross  income,  $7,- 
500  per  annum;  losses,  $380;  gratuitous  tuition,  $830. 

*  Continuation  of  Dr.  Craven's  sketch. 


64  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

During  the  whole  time,  expulsions  were  5,  deaths  3, 
conversions  1 65 .  These  were  b}'  far  the  most  prosper- 
ous years  the  college  has  ever  had;  current  expenses 
were  paid  fully  and  prompth^  oppositions  had  died 
awa}',  agents  appointed  by  the  Conference  were 
readil}^  receiving  ample  funds  for  elegant  and  com- 
modious buildings.  Some  gentlemen  were  propos- 
ing to  inaugurate  a  handsome  endowment,  and  every- 
thing was  favorable  for  a  secure  foundation  of  endur- 
ing prosperity.     B}^  the  war  all  was  changed. 

' '  During  the  war  the  exercises  of  the  institution 
were  continued  with  a  variable  but  constantly  de- 
creasing number  of  students.  In  1863,  the  President 
resigned,  and  was  stationed  for  two  years  at  Eden- 
ton  vStreet  Church,  in  the  cit}^  of  Raleigh.  Prof. 
Gannaway  was  placed  in  charge  as  President  pro  tem- 
pore, and  continued  with  a  small  number  of  students 
till  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Hardee's  corps  in  April,  1865. 
The  exercises  were  then  closed  ' ' 

Among  Dr.  Craven's  papers  is  a  report  of  the  action 
of  the  Building  Committee,  appointed  October  16, 
i860,  the  members  of  which  were  N.  F.  Reid,  N.  H. 
D.  Wilson,  Jas.  Leach,  B.  F.  Steed,  Kelly  Johnson  and 
B.  Craven.  The  committee  "resolved  that  the  con- 
tract for  the  new  building  be  awarded  to  J.  W.  Holt, 
of  Warrenton,  which  he  undertakes  to  execute,  ac- 
cording to  specifications,  for  the  sum  of  $14,000." 
The  breaking  out  of  the  war,  however,  put  an  end  to 
the  building  project. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      65 

In  his  report  to  the  Trustees,   June,    1861,   Dr. 
Craven  recommended  ' '  estabhshing  a  MiHtary  De- 
partment in  connection  with  the  college;  to  retain  the 
same  mode  of  government  as  at  present,  but  to  have 
an  efficient,  well  organized  military  department,  as 
an  extra  in  cost,  to  be  open  to  all  who  may  wish  to 
join.     To  meet  the  demands  of  the  times,  and  pre- 
suming upon  the  approval  of  the  Trustees,  I  have 
already  agreed  to  have  a  military  school  at  the  col- 
leg*  during  the  vacation,   and  the  prospect  is  good 
for  a  large  class. ' '     The  suggestion  was  adopted  and 
the  military  feature  added.      Dr.  Craven  was  for  a 
short  time  connected  with  the  Salisbury  prison,  and 
in  response  to  a  letter  of  inquiry  addressed  to  the 
Secretary  of  War,  reply  was  made  as  follows :     * '  The 
Confederate  archives,  on  file  in  this  office,  show  that 
Captain  B.  Craven  was  in  command  of  the  post  at 
Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  December  20,  1861,  and 
that  he  was  relieved  by  Capt.  A.  C.  Godwin,  between 
January  7th  and  nth,  1862.     Neither  the  exact  date 
of  his  appointment  nor  the  date  he  was  relieved  has 
been  found  of  record. ' ' 

Captain  Craven  received  the  first  prisoners  that 
were  consigned  to  that  post.  He  exerted  himself  to 
make  the  prisoners  comfortable,  and  though  he  re- 
mained in  charge  but  a  short  time,  he  displayed  that 
humanity  which  characterized  him  in  every  other 
station  in  hfe.  During  a  portion  of  Dr.  Craven's 
pastorate  in  Raleigh  the  city  was  overrun  with  Fed- 


66      Life  of  Braxtox  Craven. 

eral  soldiers,  and  life  was  made  quite  unpleasant  for 
all  Confederates.  However,  it  chanced  that  among 
the  soldiers  in  the  city  was  an  officer  who  had  been 
a  prisoner  under  Captain  Craven  at  Salisbury,  and 
he  was  especially  attentive  and  considerate  of  Dr. 
Craven  on  account  of  kindness  received  at  his  hands. 
He  put  a  horse  at  Dr.  Craven's  service,  and  showed 
him  other  evidences  of  appreciation.  When  Dr.  Cra- 
ven returned  to  Trinity  College  he  had  a  pocket  full 
of  ' '  shinplasters ' '  which  he  said  the  Federal  soldiers 
had  given  him. 

In  the  report  written  by  Dr.  Craven  to  the  Trus- 
tees, June  17,  1862,  no  mention  is  made  of  his  con- 
nection with  the  Salisbury  post,  and  no  allusion  to 
the  military  school,  which  continued  in  operation 
until  Dr.  Craven  resigned  the  presidency  of  the  col- 
lege, in  1863,  to  accept  an  appointment  to  preach  at 
Edenton  Street  Church  in  the  city  of  Raleigh. 

In  the  fall  of  1865  Dr.  Craven  was  re-elected  presi- 
dent, and  he  proceeded  immediatel3'  to  repair  and 
reopen  the  institution.  The  doors  were  opened  in  Jan- 
uary-, 1866,  with  only  a  few  students,  but  with  good 
prospects  for  the  future.  The  financial  condition  of 
the  college  was  the  best  in  its  histor3^  The  college 
had  no  liabilities  except  about  four  hundred  dollars. 
The  money  borrowed  from  the  Literary  Board,  and 
for  the  repayment  of  which  Dr.  Craven,  J.  A.  Gilmer, 
J.  W.  Thomas,  Dr.  Coffin  and  Kelly  Johnson  were 
sureties,  had  been  liquidated.     In  his  report  to  the 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      67 

Trustees,  in  1866,  Dr.  Craven  said:  "In  1864,  on  the 
30th  day  of  July,  I  paid  the  debt  to  the  Literary 
Board,  and  paid  it  exclusively  with  my  own  money. 
I  now  hold  the  bond  against  the  corporation,  just  as 
it  was  held  by  the  State,  ''^  ^  *  but,  for  the 
present,  it  in  no  way  troubles  the  trustees,  as  I  am 
not  claiming  any  interest. ' ' 

The  patronage  of  the  college  rapidly  increased, 
and  by  the  year  1870  the  matriculates  numbered  over 
two  hundred.  In  1871,  however,  there  was  a  sud- 
den falling  off  in  attendance.  Dr.  Craven  was  op- 
pressed. In  his  diary,  under  date  of  January  7th, 
he  writes:  "I  have  been  overpaying  board  accounts, 
which  has  been  one  reason  of  my  oppression. ' '  The 
president  handled  a  good  deal  of  money  for  the  stu- 
dents, and  it  was  the  practice  of  the  people  who  took 
boarders  to  call  upon  him  for  advances  when  they 
were  pressed  for  money. 

On  the  same  date  he  writes,  "  As  a  whole  I  over- 
paid the  Faculty  last  summer. ' ' 

January  nth:  "  I  do  not  see  how  we  shall  suc- 
ceed, but  somehow  I  beHeve  we  will.  The  God  of 
my  boyhood  will  not  forsake  me  now. ' ' 

January  i8th:  "Paid  the  Faculty  in  full  for  last 
session.  *  ^'  I  am  paying  them  more  than  the 
income  of  the  college.  But  I  intend  to  act  the  part 
of  a  man.  Some  day  my  acts  will  show  for  them- 
selves." 

January  24th:  ' '  Paid  the  Faculty  on  this  session 
iioo  each." 


68  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

January  13th:  He  enumerates  several  needs  of  the 
college,  and  among  them  new  buildings.  "I  see 
what  is  needed,  but  do  not  know  how  to  procure  it." 

The  demand  for  more  ample  accommodations  be- 
came urgent,  and  the  proposition  to  erect  a  large  new 
building  was  again  revived.  The  matter  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Conference  in  1871  in  the  form  of  a 
request  for  a  fund  of  $10,000.  Each  member  of  the 
church  was  asked  to  give  one  dollar,  and  "  that  all 
the  preachers  be  earnestly  requested  to  act  as  agents, ' ' 
etc.  The  Conference  agreed  to  make  an  effort  to 
raise  this  sum.  The  Trustees  at  once  set  to  work  to 
have  the  building  erected.  It  was  ascertained  that 
the  cost  by  contract  of  such  a  building  as  desired 
would  be  $20,000,  but  that  about  one-fourth  could 
be  saved  by  hiring  men  to  do  the  work  by  the  day. 
The  latter  idea  was  adopted.  The  plans  and  specifi- 
cations were  drawn  up  by  Dr.  Craven  according  to 
mathematical  principles,  and  he  ordered  and  inspected 
all  the  materials  and  superintended  the  construction. 
The  funds  for  the  building-came  in  slowly,  and  con- 
sequently the  completion  of  the  building  was  re- 
tarded. The  building  was  still  in  progress  in  1873, 
and  not  until  two  years  later  was  it  far  enough  along 
to  use.  In  1875  the  first  commencement  was  held 
in  the  new  chapel,  which  proved  to  be  one  of  the 
best  auditoriums  in  the  country. 

Dr.  Craven  in  his  report  to  the  Trustees  in  1874, 
said:   "The  whole  cost  thus  far  is  about  $11,000. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      69 

To  meet  this  I  have  borrowed  $5,675-     ^  have  re- 
ceived from   agents  and  other  donations  $2,600." 
The  final  completion  of  the  building  entailed  a  cost 
of  about  $14,000.     The  available  resources  for  meet- 
ing this  were  subscription  notes  aggregating  about 
$10,000,  the   cash  value  of  which  was  not  half  of 
that  sum.     In  1877  the  President  reported  that  the 
collections  from  these  notes  for  the  year  ' '  amounted 
to  $595.27,  and  payments  made  by  me  to  meet  posi- 
tive   necessities  and  claims  due  have  amounted  to 
$1,249.50,  hence  I  have  advanced  $654.23,  which  to 
me  has  been  very  inconvenient."     The  debt  then 
remaining  was  $9,725.00.     The  paper  subscriptions 
were  $8,000,  whose  cash  value  was  judged  to  be  not 
exceeding  $3,000  or  $4,000.     From  this  time  until 
his  death  this  debt  was  a  source  of  great  vexation. 
Having  no  endowment  fund,  and  having  to  keep  up 
repairs,   pay  the  salaries  of  the  professors,  and  all 
contingent  expenses  (including  traveling  of   Trus- 
tees), out  of  the  receipts  from  students,  the  closest 
economy  was  necessary;-  and  very   often    pressing 
claims  entailed  great  personal  sacrifices  on  the  part 
of  himself  and  faculty.     However,  at  no  time  did  he 
place  greater  sacrifices  upon  his  co-workers   than 
upon  himself.     The  salaries  were  fixed  by  the  Trus- 
tees, and  the  income  was  to  be  pro  rated  accordingly 
every  year.     In  1875  the  Treasurer's  report  showed 
that  Dr.  Craven  was  underpaid,  while  three  of  the 
Professors  were  overpaid.     Ini  877  the  report  showed 


70      Life  of  Braxtox  Craven. 

that  he  was  again  underpaid  and  all  the  other  Pro- 
fessors overpaid.  Although  his  salar}"  was  $500 
more  per  annum  than  the  others,  the  average  salaries 
actually  paid  from  1870  to  1878  were  as  follows: 
Craven,  $737. 10;  Gannaway,  $719. 10;  Carr,  $733.84; 
Johnson,  $773.27;  Pegram  for  three  years  as  tutor, 
$488.87. 

^'^ "  From  1866  to  1876  the  average  number  of 
matriculations  was  156;  gross  annual  income,  $6,000; 
losses,  $340;  gratuitous  tuition,  $620;  for  the  whole 
time:  deaths  4,  expulsions  4,  conversions  332. 

"  From  the  first,  a  period  of  thirtj-four  years,  the 
statistics  are  as  follows:  Losses,  $6,060;  gratuitous 
tuition,  $11,300;  deaths  at  college,  13;  expulsions, 
25;  conversions,  1,157.  The  whole  number  of  gradu- 
ates is  198;  of  these  78  have  received  A.  M.,  34  are 
lawyers;  ph3^sicians,  13;  preachers,  28;  teachers  and 
professors  in  colleges,  25.  Of  the  whole  number  23 
have  died,  13  of  whom  were  killed  in  the  war.  Fif- 
teen of  the  graduates  are  members  of  the  North  Caro- 
lina Conference,  and  thirt} -six  (being  over  one-fifth 
of  the  whole  Conference)  were  educated  in  whole  or 
in  part  at  Trinity. 

' '  The  honorary-  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  has  been 
conferred  upon  fifteen  persons,  Doctor  of  Divinity 
upon  thirteen,  and  Doctor  of  Laws  upon  two. 

"The  professors  have  been  as  follows:  Rev.  A.  S. 
Andrews,  D.  D.,  1851   to   1854;  Hon.  W.  M.  Rob- 

*  Continuation  of  Dr.  Craven's  sketch. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  71 

bins,  A.  M.,  1851  to  1854;  L.  Johnson,  A.  M.,  1855 
to  the  present;  J.  L.  Wright,  A.  M.,  1855  to  1865; 
W.  T.  Gannaway,  A.  M. ,  1857  to  the  present;  ^--O.  W. 
Carr,  A.  M.,  1863  to  the  present;  Rev.  Peter  Doub, 
D.  D.,  1866  to  1870;  W.  C.  Doub,  A.  M.,  1867  to 
1873;  J.  W.  Young,  Esq.,  1864  to  1865;  Rev.  W.  H. 
Pegram,  A.  M.,  1865  to  the  present. 

"The  following  have  been  tutors:  L.  Johnson, 
A.  M.,  1853  to  1855;  O.  W.  Carr,  A.  M.,  1855  to 
1863;  Rev.  J.  H.  Robbins,  A.  M.,  1855  to  1859; 
R.  H.  Skeene,  A.  M.,  1858  to  i860;  L.  W.  Andrews, 
A.  M.,  i860  to  1863;  R.  S.  Andrews,  A.  M.,  1870 
to  1871  ;  Rev.  J.  K.  Tucker,  A.  M.,  1871  to  1872; 
Rev.  W.  H.  Pegram,  A.  M.,  1873  to  1875. 

* '  The  college  owns  seventeen  acres  of  land  that 
cost  $12,000,  buildings  worth  $35,000,  and  furniture 
and  apparatus  to  the  value  of  $3,000.  There  are 
four  libraries,  containing  over  ten  thousand  volumes 
and  worth  at  least  $10,000.  The  buildings  are  two, 
united  together,  substantially  built  of  brick,  three 
stories  high,  covered  with  iron,  and  nearly  the  same 
as  new\  For  at  least  two  hundred  students  the 
accommodations  are  ample  in  lecture  rooms,  society 
halls,  libraries,  museum  and  everything  that  can  be 
required.  The  Chapel  is  perhaps  the  best  auditorium 
in  the  country,  both  for  the  speaker  and  the  hearer. 
It  will  pleasantly  seat  two  thousand  persons,  and  is 

*J.  D.  Hodges,  A.  M.,  entered  the  faculty   after  the  resignation  of 
Professor  Carr. 


72      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

so  perfect  in  acoustics,  ventilation  and  arrangement 
that  a  much  larger  number  might  be  accommodated, 
each  seeing  the  speaker  without  obstruction,  hearing 
distinctly,  and  suffering  no  inconvenience  from  im- 
pure air." 

In  '78  the  Conference  Committee  on  Education 
reported  that  '  *  over  and  above  all  liabilities  the  prop- 
erty- of  the  college  is,  at  cost  value,  worth  over  S30,- 
000,  and  yet  not  more  than  $5, 000  from  all  sources 
has  been  received  by  the  college  in  donations.  Hence, 
the  institution  has  not  only  paid  the  faculty  and  all 
current  expenses,  but  has  in  some  way  contributed 
largely  to  the  real  property.  This  is  not  onl}^  unu- 
sual, but  it  is  unique  in  the  histor}^  of  male  colleges, 
and  is  perhaps  the  only  instance  of  the  kind  among 
American  Institutions. ' ' 


I/iFE  OF  Braxton  Craven. 


73 


o 

o 

r 

C/3 


ha 


JIBES'  "J^  ,'     *i 


^ 


74  Life  of  Braxtox  Cravex, 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Dr.  Craven  was  a  great  lover  of  the  newspaper, 
and  for  many  years  he  was  a  subscriber  to  one  of  the 
Xew  York  dailies.  The  Herald  and  Evening  Post 
were  his  favorites.  He  had  a  keen  interest  in  all 
phases  of  life,  and  used  to  remark  to  his  students 
that  he  read  everything  in  the  newspapers,  including 
the  advertisements. 

He  was  one  of  the  busiest  of  men.  While  not  en- 
gaged in  ofhce  work  or  in  the  class-room,  he  was  at 
home  writing  lectures,  reading,  working  out  some 
problems  in  mathematics,  or  out  in  the  field  looking 
after  the  farm. 

He  made  calculations  every  3"ear  for  Turner '  s  Alma- 
nac. In  1 869  he  got  into  a  controversy  with  a  govern- 
ment official  at  Washington,  as  to  whether  a  certain 
eclipse  of  that  year  would  cover  the  city  of  Raleigh. 
Dr.  Craven  took  the  affirmative,  and  forced  his  oppo- 
nent to  agree  with  him. 

He  was  the  general  counsellor  for  the  whole 
Trinity  community.  When  neighbors  got  into  any 
feuds  or  legal  entanglements,  the}'  went  at  once 
to  consult  Dr.  Craven.  He  settled  many  difficulties 
and  kept  manj^  scandals  out  of  court.  He  wrote 
many  wills,  and  in  the  transferring  of  property  he 
often  drew  the  deeds,  without  charging  a  cent  for  the 
service.     He  also  surveyed  land.     Prof.  Gannaway 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.       75 

says  he  surveyed  a  tract  for  him,  for  which  no  pay 
was  ever  asked.  His  judgment  was  not  only  sought 
on  matters  of  this  sort,  but  also  in  regard  to  farm- 
ing. He  would  advise  as  to  whether  it  were  better  to 
plant  corn  or  cotton  now  or  next  week,  or  whether 
to  cut  wheat  to-day  or  to-morrow.  He  loved  agri- 
culture and  always  felt  a  deep  interest  in  its  progress 
and  problems.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  an 
active  member  of  a  farmers'  club.  He  kept  all  the 
accounts  of  the  college  himself,  including  the  manage- 
ment of  the  book  and  stationery  department.  The 
last  six  or  seven  years  of  his  life  he  used  an  electric 
stereotyping  machine  for  duplicating  manuscripts, 
etc.  Ver}^  often  he  would  copy  off  the  questions  for 
all  the  other  professors  during  the  week  of  examina- 
tions. 

His  office  consisted  of  two  rooms,  the  front  one 
being  his  library,  for  writing  and  consulting;  the 
rear  one  for  stationery  and  plunder.  A  large  book- 
case with  glass  doors  stretched  along  one  side  of 
both  rooms.  A  dull,  coarse  carpet  covered  the  floor. 
His  desk  occupied  the  centre  of  the  room.  He  sat 
in  a  large  movable  chair,  with  his  back  to  an  open 
fireplace.  He  not  only  did  a  great  deal  of  work,  but 
it  was  often  said  of  him  that  he  could  do  tw^o  things 
at  the  same  time.  On  coming  into  the  office,  one 
would  see  him  bending  over  his  desk,  writing  with 
great  speed  (and  few  men  could  write  faster  or  more 
gracefully).  He  would  glance  up  to  see  w^ho  was 
present,  without  ceasing  the  movement  of  his  pen. 


76      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

"Well,  what  is  it  Smith?"  he  would  say,  and  all 
during  the  conversation  he  would  continue  writing 
away  and  chewing  tobacco,  and  apparently  giving 
no  heed  whatever  to  what  was  said.  Now  and  then 
he  would  turn  in  his  chair  to  spit  in  the  fire-place. 

He  was  a  sort  of  jack  of  all  trades,  and  whenever 
there  was  a  broken  pane  of  glass,  a  faultj^  lock,  or 
disjointed  door  or  window,  he  knew  exactly  how  to 
fix  it.  In  the  farming  seasons,  he  was  often  about 
the  fields  giving  precise  directions  as  to  how  things 
should  be  planted,  ploughed,  and  reaped.  The 
writer  has  several  times  seen  him,  with  coat  off, 
sowing  wheat.  He  understood  all  about  farm  ma- 
chinery, and  he  could  mend  a  harrow  or  plough,  or 
a  broken  piece  of  harness,  with  wonderful  ease  and 
quickness.  There  was  little  about  practical  farming 
or  blacksmithing  or  carpentry  that  he  did  not  know 
b}'  experience.  He  had  made  many  barrels,  ax- 
handles,  hoe-handles,  shingles,  harrows,  spokes, 
horse-shoes  and  ploughs. 

Dr.  Craven  had  one  striking  peculiarity.  He 
often  passed  people  on  the  streets  and  on  the  campus 
without  speaking  or  lifting  his  eyes  from  the  ground. 
It  was  very  rare  that  he  spoke  to  a  student  outside 
of  his  office.  Even  in  passing  professors  in  the  halls 
of  the  college  he  w^ould  often  not  notice  them.  A 
good  many  people  could  not  understand  this,  and 
some  of  them  thought  it  was  done  to  awe  and  com- 
mand respect,  while  others  thought  it  was  natural 


IviFK  OF  Braxton  Craven.  77 

indifference  to  manners.  Neither  of  these  views  is 
probably  correct.  He  was  what  some  people  call 
absent-minded.  Whatever  engaged  his  mind  occa- 
sioned great  intensiveness  of  application;  so  much  so 
that  he  was  often  unconscious  of  the  objects  that 
passed  before  his  eyes.  He  used  to  say  that  he 
solved  many  problems  while  following  behind  the 
plough.  When  not  in  a  "brown  study,"  he  was  as 
open  and  sportive  in  disposition  as  a  man  could  be. 
"He  personally  conducted  a  class  in  gymnastics," 
writes  an  alumnus,  * '  and  was  an  enthusiastic  believer 
in  all  manly  sports.  It  was  a  sight  worth  seeing  to 
behold  him,  after  the  regular  day's  work  was  done, 
the  volunteer  leader  of  a  large  number  of  students, 
himself  near  sixty  years  of  age,  taking  a  half  hour's 
brisk  exercise  with  arms  and  legs  and  lungs.  These 
exercises  were  in  a  large  room  under  the  new  chapel, 
and  were  always  well  attended." 

Those  who  associated  closely  with  him  know  that 
he  was  in  nowise  lacking  in  manners,  polish,  or  the 
amenities  of  life.  On  the  contrary,  he  was  admired 
everywhere  for  his  easy  dignity  of  bearing,  and  the 
felicity  and  charm  of  his  conversation.  In  moments 
of  abandonment,  or  in  company  an3'where,  no  one 
could  be  freer  from  stiffness.  There  was  a  playful 
smile  upon  his  face,  and  a  flash  from  his  eye,  which 
gave  his  face  a  fascinating  light.  His  wide  range  of 
knowledge,  experience  and  observation  made  him 
at  home  in  any  conversation.     He  talked  with  great 


78  Life  of  Braxtox  Cravex. 

fluency,  and  threw  into  his  conversation  that  aptness 
of  iUnstration  and  good-natured  humor  which  enli- 
vened his  lectures  in  the  class-room.  But  he  was 
never  pedantic,  forward  or  vain.  While  modest  and 
reserved,  he  had  that  ease  of  bearing  and  sparkle  of 
the  eye  which  characterize  a  man  who  is  conscious 
of  his  own  great  powers.  He  was  a  man  of  striking 
personal  appearance,  being  somewhat  short  and 
heavy  set,  with  a  massive  head,  well  rounded  and 
covered  with  thick  black  hair.  His  forehead  was 
high  and  prominent,  shading  his  dark,  deep-set  eyes. 
His  nose  was  straight,  but  rather  short  and  broad. 
He  had  a  thin,  classic  lip,  which  was  always  clean 
shaven.  On  his  chin  he  wore  a  short,  chubby  beard. 
The  lines  and  muscles  about  his  eyes  and  mouth  ex- 
pressed strength,  and  his  countenance  in  repose  was 
hard  and  severe.  He  usually  attired  himself  in  a  black 
Prince  Albert  coat,  a  turn-down  collar,  black  cravat, 
and  silk  hat.  Mr.  D.  L.  Clark,  an  artist  of  High 
Point,  painted  an  excellent  portrait  of  him,  which  is 
now  in  the  Hesperian  Literary  Societ}^  In  any 
company  and  at  any  time,  he  attracted  attention  and 
commanded  respect.  On  his  trips  North  he  met 
from  time  to  time  a  number  of  eminent  men.  He 
visited  the  White  House  several  times  and  talked 
with  President  Grant.  Coming  out  of  a  public 
building  one  day,  he  was  mistaken  for  the  Presi- 
^  dent  himself.  Later,  he  accompanied  a  party  of 
/   students  to  W^ashington  and  visited  President  Hayes. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      79 

A  member  of  the  part 3^  said  that  ' '  he  took  on  a  good 
deal  with  Mrs.  Ha3"es. ' '  On  other  trips  he  met  and 
conversed  with  Beecher  and  Talmage.  He  was 
especial!}'  pleased  with  Beecher  and  Grant,  both  of 
whom  impressed  him  as  being  verj^  powerful  men. 
By  the  way,  Dr.  Craven  was  a  great  admirer  of 
power  and  personal  force  in  an}-  one.  Dr.  Talmage 
delivered  the  commencement  address  at  Trinit}-  Col- 
lege on  two  occasions — once  in  1875  and  again  in 
1 88 1 .  Cordial  relations  existed  between  Craven  and 
Talmage  up  to  the  former's  death,  when  the  latter 
sent  a  telegram  of  sympathy  to  the  widow. 
f  Among  his  staunchest  friends  were  Senator  Vance, 
/  Judge  Pearson  and  Gov.  Holden,  whom  he  came  to 
know  well  during  his  residence  in  Raleigh. 

The  commencement  occasions  at  Trinity  were 
alwaj^s  largel}'  attended.  Members  of  the  alumni 
and  friends  of  the  institution  came  from  all  parts  of 
the  State,  while  the  people  of  Randolph  poured  in 
from  all  quarters — some  in  covered  wagons,  some  in 
carriages  and  buggies,  and  man}"  on  foot.  The 
groves  about  the  college  on  such  occasions  were  full 
of  wagons  and  horses.  The  new  chapel,  with  a 
seating  capacity  of  two  thousand,  never  accommo- 
dated the  throngs  that  pressed  for  entrance.  A 
feature  of  commencement  for  many  j^ears  was  the 
*  *  Annual  Reception ' '  given  by  the  students  the 
night  after  graduation.  The  campus  was  lighted  up, 
and  long  tables  were  placed  in  rows  and  loaded  with 


So  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

edibles  to  accommodate  from  three  to  five  hundred 
people.  Tickets  of  invitation  were  issued,  and  taken 
up  at  the  gates,  while  guards  were  stationed  along 
the  campus  fence  to  exclude  intruders.  There  were 
alwaj^s  some  rowdies  in  the  village  at  such  times, 
and  they  sometimes  leaped  over  the  fences  and  raided 
the  banquet  tables.  The  crowds  became  so  large, 
and  the  expense  to  the  students  so  heavy  (often 
amounting  to  $io  a  head),  that  the  open-air  spread 
was  abandoned,  and  the  reception  confined  to  the 
senior  class  and  its  friends,  and  held  within  doors. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  8i 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Dr.  Craven  had  exceptional  qualifications  for  gov- 
erning students.  His  method  was  not  military.  He 
set  no  watch  over  young  men,  but  relied  entirely 
^upon  their  manhood  and  honor.  Sometimes  hearing 
of  some  mischief-making  or  disorder,  he  would 
boldly  walk  in  upon  the  boys,  and  in  his  quiet  and 
serious  manner  say:  ' '  Come,  boys,  come;  this  sort  of 
thing  simply  won't  do.  None  of  you  can  afford  to 
be  wasting  time  in  this  way.  Every  man  of  you 
ought  to  be  in  your  rooms  at  work.  I  trust  I  shall 
hear  no  more  of  this  to-night. ' '  His  presence  never 
failed  to  put  an  end  to  night  reveling. 

One  afternoon,  soon  after  the  war,  a  feud  arose 
between  the  students  and  a  large  crowd  of  negroes. 
Hot  words  passed,  and  they  were  about  to  come  to 
blows.  Hearing  of  the  trouble.  Dr.  Craven  hastened 
to  the  scene,  without  waiting  for  his  hat.  Pointing 
his  finger  at  the  crowd  of  negroes,  he  told  them  in  a 
calm  but  firm  voice  to  disperse.  Then  turning  to 
the  boys  he  said:  ' '  Now,  boys,  no  more  of  this.  Get 
to  your  .rooms."  All  obeyed  instantly,  and  an  ugly 
row  was  averted. 

At  one  time  the  secret  fraternities  occasioned  much 
disorder,  strife  and  dissipation.  Dr.  Craven  was 
quick  to  discern  their  evil  influences,  and  he  caused 
them  to  abandon  the  institution.     The  college  gov- 


82       Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

ernment  consisted  of  ver}^  few  rules.  Bo3's  were  not 
allowed  to  leave  the  college  without  permission,  and 
were  expected  to  observe  study  hours  in  their  rooms 
at  night.  A  student  had  not  been  in  the  institution 
many  da3^s  before  he  realized  what  moral  standard 
was  set  for  them.  Dr.  Craven  had  led  an  unblem- 
ished life  himself,  had  sown  no  wild  oats,  and  it 
pained  him  to  see  others  committing  immoralities,  or 
w^asting  the  opportunities  of  life.  At  chapel  exer- 
cises every  morning  he  made  short  talks  to  the  boys, 
appealing  to  their  manhood  and  nobler  instincts  in 
behalf  of  studious  habits  and  uprightness  of  conduct. 
When  a  boy  had  left  the  college  without  permission, 
got  on  a  spree,  or  otherwise  subjected  himself  to  dis- 
cipline, he  was  notified  at  chapel  to  appear  at  the 
President's  office.  Here  the  Doctor  would  talk  the 
matter  over,  appealing  with  all  his  power  to  the 
boy's  conscience  and  honor.  But  he  w^as  never  harsh 
under  the  most  aggravating  circumstances.  He  felt 
the  deepest  concern  about  every  student,  and  in  dis- 
ciplining them  his  manner  and  voice  were  like  the 
sorrowing  and  wounded  mother  rather  than  the 
scolding  father.  To  see  his  disapproving  counte- 
nance was  the  severest  possible  rebuke.  Hence,  not 
only  the  well-behaved,  but  the  worst  boys  of  the 
school,  and  even  those  who  were  expelled,  loved  Dr. 
Craven  with  something  of  the  affection  which  one 
feels  for  a  mother  or  father.  Great  as  was  the  power 
of  Dr.  Craven  in  bringing  out  the  possibilities  of 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      83 

young  men,  he  could  not  make  a  man  of  every  boy, 
and  many  boys  went  to  Trinity,  as  have  gone  to 
other  schools,  who  were  incorrigible  and  proof  against 
sensibility.  But  upon  the  whole,  it  is  doubtful 
whether  any  college  in  America  has  turned  out  a 
greater  per  cent,  of  successful  and  useful  men. 

It  has  often  been  facetiously  remarked  that  Dr. 
Craven  impressed  upon  every  student  two  facts: 
First,  that  Dr.  Craven  was  the  greatest  man  in  the 
world;  and  second,  that  the  student  was  the  next  great- 
est. There  is  no  doubt  of  the  fact  that  the  boys  all 
thought  him  a  great  man,  and  he  certainly  had  the 
happy  facult}^  of  kindling  the  flame  of  ambition  in 
boys  and  recognizing  the  latent  possibilities  in  them . 
The  best  results  cannot  be  obtained  from  either  boys 
or  girls  by  ever  harping  upon  their  short- comings. 
There  is  nothing  so  essential  to  a  good  teacher  as  the 
ability  to  detect  the  strong  qualities  in  the  composi- 
tion of  the  pupil  and  to  give  them  proper  nourish- 
ment. This  high  estimation  of  Dr.  Craven  was  b}^ 
no  means  confined  to  the  students.  The  writer  could 
quote  many  extravagant  opinions  that  have  been 
expressed  of  Dr.  Craven  by  men  whom  he  touched 
in  the  outside  world,  but  it  would  probabh^  detract 
from  the  biography  to  present  opinions  in  this  con- 
nection, or  la}^  stress  upon  them  anywhere. 

Among  all  of  his  admirers  and  friends,  none  held 
him  up  higher  or  stood  by  him  with  more  steadfast- 
ness than   those  who  saw  most  of  him  and  lived 


84      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

nearest  to  him.  xVniong  those  men,  the  writer  calls 
to  mind  John  W.  Thomas,  Ahi  Robbins,  Jabez 
Leach,  Joseph  Johnson,  Jas.  Leach,  L.  M.  Leach, 
and  Dr.  S.  G.  Coffin. 

Mr.  Charles  Hundle}',  who  lived  in  Trinit}'  onl}^  a 
few  3'ears  before  the  Doctor  died,  says  that  he 
thought  more  of  Craven  than  an^-  man  he  ever  saw; 
that  no  man  ever  "  got  next  to  me  like  Craven." 

When  visiting  among  the  people  where  Dr.  Cra- 
ven was  raised,  the  writer  found  the  name  to  be  men- 
tioned always  with  love  and  reverence.  Every  one 
was  anxious  to  make  sacrifices  to  aid  the  writer's 
work,  and  even  the  liveryman  at  Ramseur  offered  a 
horse  without  charge. 

In  the  winter  of  1880  Dr.  Craven  accompanied  a 
part}^  of  students  to  the  capital  of  the  nation.  The 
following  account  of  the  trip  is  from  one  of  the  party: 

'  *  I  cannot  recall  at  this  day  how  it  came  about 
that  a* trip  to  Washington  was  proposed  for  ni}^  class. 
I  remember  well  that  somewhere  in  our  junior  year 
the  Doctor  smilingl}"  told  us  that  he  saw  no  reason 
wh}^  somebody  out  of  the  students  then  in  college 
should  not  become  president  of  the  United  States, 
and  he  was  sure  some  of  us  would  one  day  make  the 
halls  of  Congress  ring  with  our  eloquence.  This 
was  doubtless  one  of  his  stock  flatteries,  but  it  may 
have  been  taken  seriously  by  one  or  more  members 
of  my  class,  who  resolved  on  going  to  the  national 
capital  at  the  earliest  possible  moment  to  see  how  the 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.       85 

thing  was  done,  to  know  how  to  work  the  legislative 
machine,  or  to  run  the  White  House,  in  case  an  emer- 
gency call  should  be  made  upon  them.  However 
this  may  have  been,  the  plan  was  proposed,  and  the 
President  undertook  to  give  it  effect.  This  was  the 
first  and  only  time,  as  far  as  I  know,  that  such  an 
excursion  was  undertaken  by  a  class  of  Trinity  stu- 
dents and,  of  course,  it  created  quite  a  commotion  at 
that  time.  My  recollection  is  that  the  trip  was  un- 
dertaken in  the  month  of  March,  1880,  but  of  this  I 
cannot  be  certain.  Round- trip  tickets  had  been  pro- 
cured at  reasonable  rates  for  twenty  to  twentj^-five 
persons.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  think  the  party  con- 
sisted of  twent3^-two  persons,  including  four  members 
of  the  President's  household — Professor  Carr,  Rev. 
C.  C.  Dodson,  and  a  daughter  of  Professor  Ganna- 
wa}^  We  left  High  Point  in  the  forenoon  and  ar- 
rived at  Washington  that  evening.  We  were  met  at 
the  depot  by  a  delegation  of  North  Carolina  Con- 
gressmen— Messrs.  Armfield,  Steele,  Scales,  Kitchen, 
and  others.  Well  I  remember  the  broad-brimmed 
Greeley  hats  they  wore — or  some  of  them — and  how 
rotund  and  solid  they  looked,  greeting  us  in  the  glare 
of  the  depot  lights  as  we  alighted  from  the  train.  I 
doubt  ver}^  much  whether  any  other  set  of  boys  were 
ever  so  received  b}'  a  North  Carolina  delegation ;  but 
it  was  election  5^ear,  and  our  great  men  knew  that 
there  were  lots  of  Methodist  votes  behind  us.  The 
first  thing  that  happened  to  us  was  that  Mr.  Arm- 


86       Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

field,  then  the  able  representative  of  the  Seventh 
Congressional  District,  and  a  candidate  for  re-elec- 
tion, gave  us — the  students — an  oyster  supper.  I 
could  not  make  oath  that  we  had  time  to  wash  our 
hands  and  faces  before  we  were  led  to  the  feast,  but 
perhaps  so.  I  know  there  was  no  time  lost  by  the 
honorable  member,  and  we  voted  him,  unanimously, 
a  good  host.  I  think,  also,  that  he  was  re-elected  to 
Congress  by  a  large  majorit3\  Both  the  North  Caro- 
lina Senators,  Ransom  and  Vance,  were  present,  I 
think,  and  all  the  Representatives,  including  Mr. 
Russell,  the  Republican  member  from  the  Wilming- 
ton-District. It  was  Mr.  Armfield's  y^/<?,  however, 
and  the  others,  excepting  Senator  Vance,  were  dumb, 
ruminating  probabh^  upon  the  slips  the}^  had  made 
in  "permitting  the  gentleman  from  the  Seventh  to  get 
ahead  of  them! 

"The  next  day  we  went  to  the  Capitol,  and  had 
seats  in  the  Members'  and  Senators'  galleries  in  the 
House  and  Senate.  I  remember  how  strange  it 
seemed  to  us  that  there  was  so  much  confusion  in 
the  House  during  debate.  Members  were  slapping 
their  hands  for  pages,  talking,  walking  about,  laugh- 
ing, lounging,  just  as  though  nothing  of  consequence 
was  going  on.  In  the  Senate  there  was  less  noise, 
the  first  noticeable  difference  being  that  the  Senators 
called  the  pages  by  snapping  of  the  fingers  instead 
of  clapping  of  the  hands,  as  at  the  other  end  of  the 
Capitol. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      87 

"  Man}'  of  the  great  men  of  the  last  quarter  cen- 
tury were  then  in  Congress — Thurman,  Pendleton, 
Bayard,  Conkling,  Blame,  Lamar,  Hampton,  Butler, 
Morgan,  and  others  of  their  kind,  in  the  Senate; 
whilst  Randall,  Cox,  Blackburn,  Garfield,  Hewitt, 
Hurd,  Holman,  and  many  others  of  marked  ability, 
were  in  the  Lower  House.  I  remember  to  have  heard 
our  Congressman,  Mr.  Armfield,  say,  in  discussing 
the  members  of  the  two  Houses,  that  Garfield  was  by 
all  odds  the  brainiest  man  in  either  house,  thus  fore- 
shadowing the  rise  of  that  truly  gifted  but  fated  son 
of  Ohio. 

' '  Many  other  incidents  of  the  trip,  too  insignifi- 
cant to  be  dwelt  upon,  drift  through  my  mind  as  I 
, review  the  trip:  the  clear  night  when  we  went  to 
bed,  and  the  snow  which  greeted  us  in  the  morning; 
an  evening  at  the  theatre,  with  a  fearfully  cold  wind 
on  Pennsylvania  Avenue  to  blow  us  home  afterwards; 
a  visit  to  the  White  House  to  see  President  Hayes  and 
Mrs.  Hayes,  in  which  I  did  not  join;  hours  spent  in 
silent  adoration  of  the  splendid  works  of  art  in  the 
Corcoran  Art  Gallery,  and  examination  of  the 
Smithsonian  Institute  and  public  buildings. 

* '  Nothing  was  spared  by  our  friends  in  Congress 
to  show  us  how  to  run  the  Government,  and  to  give 
us  a  good  time;  and  we  came  aw^ay  at  last  satisfied 
that  we  knew  how  to  get  to  Washington,  and  what 
to  do  after  getting  there. ' ' 

Dr.  Craven's  ideas  as  to  church  schools  and  col- 


88  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

leges  are  summed  up  in  a  paragraph  in  the  Confer- 
ence Report  on  Education,  1876,  which  he  \Yrote: 

"We  repel  the  intimation  that  we  shall  become 
narrow-minded  and  illiberal.  We  are  missionaries 
by  organization,  catholic  in  creed,  tolerant  by  incli- 
nation, and  are  willing  to  test  and  be  tested  with 
and  b}'  all  Christians  in  all  matters  of  Christian  fra- 
ternity and  good  fellowship.  We  simpl}^  desire  to 
take  care  of  our  own  to  the  best  of  our  abilit}";  and 
we  think  the  command  to  bring  up  our  children  in 
the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord  must  refer 
to  schools  of  all  grades  as  well  as  to  home  life. ' ' 

In  a  memorial  to  the  Legislature  in  1877  he  said: 
"The  histor}'  of  nearly  all  nations  justifies  the  asser- 
tion that  every  sovereign  State  essentiall}-  needs  a 
university  within  its  own  territory;  that  no  college 
can  do  the  work  of  a  university;  and  that  a  univer- 
sity^ is  no  substitute  for  a  college,  and  never  can  do 
collegiate  work  successfully." 

Dr.  Craven  was  a  Mason,  and  was  Master  of  the 
Trinity  Lodge  for  a  number  of  years. 
,    He  was  for  a  long  time  on  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  the  North  Carolina  Insane  Asvlum. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.       89 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

In  answer  to  the  question,  What  were  Dr.  Cra- 
ven's principles  and  methods  of  teaching?  it  is  only 
necessary  to  quote  his  own  language.  He  left  among 
his  manuscripts  a  lecture  on  ' '  The  Best  Methods  of 
Communicating  Knowledge,"  which  the  reader  will 
find  in  Part  Second.  The  lecture  covers  the  field  so 
well  that  little  remains  to  be  said. 

Perhaps  it  would  interest  the  reader  to  know 
upon  what  subjects  he  lectured.  The  manuscripts 
which  he  left  behind  him  give  a  fair  idea  as  to  the 
range  of  subjects  covered  at  various  periods  in 
the  history  of  the  college.  In  a  blank  book  the 
writer  found  a  condensed  narrative  of  Ancient  His- 
tory from  Rollin,  with  frequent  scriptural  refer- 
ences; one  lecture  on  Cosmogony;  one  embracing  the 
most  important  points  of  history  up  to  the  fall  of  the 
Roman  Empire;  another  detailing  the  character  of 
society  and  the  events  of  the  Middle  Ages;  five  lec- 
tures on  Modern  History;  thirteen  lectures  on  Nat- 
ural Science,  including  Pneumatics,  Gravity  and 
Motion;  Scope  of  Natural  Science;  Mineralogy, 
Chemistry,  Theoretic  Cosmogony,  etc.;  ninety-two 
lectures  on  Law;  seven  lectures  on  Logic,  one  of  them 
numbered  23;  thirteen  on  Geology;  two  on  Latin  Con- 
struction; one  on  Greek  Construction  and  Transla- 
tion; fifty-five  lectures  on  Rhetoric  and  the  Fine  Arts, 
7 


90  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

including  ' '  The  Philosophy  and  Histor}'  of  Painting, 
with  Notes  on  the  most  Celebrated  Masters  and  their 
Works;"  forty-five  lectures  on  Theolog3';  twenty- 
three  lectures  on^Moral  Philosophy;  a  book  contain- 
ing notes  of  many  lectures  on  Mj-thology;  another 
book  containing  a  Treatise  on  the  Government  of  the 
United  States;  outlines  of  Political  Economy;  and 
an  Essay  on  Industrial  Waste;  also  two  lectures  on 
Military  Science,  and  two  on  Education. 

According  to  the  statement  of  Prof.  Doub,  Dr. 
Craven  read  fluently  in  four  languages  besides  the 
English,  to-wit,  Greek,  Latin,  Hebrew,  and  French. 

None  of  his  lectures  were  written  out  in  full,  but 
some  of  them  contained  complete  paragraphs  written 
under  each  head  or  division  of  the  subject.  Many 
of  them  contained  onh'  a  few  words  or  names  of 
places,  to  suggest  the  continuity  of  thought.  For 
instance,  in  his  notes  on  Mythology  are  such  entries 
as  these:  "  Phocis — The  Country — Elatea — Parnas- 
sus— two  tops — Apollo  and  Muses — Bacchus — Cas- 
talian  fount — Deucalion  and  P3Trha — Delphi,"  etc. 
He  never  read  a  lecture  in  the  class-room,  but  he 
would  bring  with  him  a  book  or  a  few  sheets  of  pa- 
per which  he  would  place  on  the  table  to  his  right. 
Then,  seating  himself  and  looking  in  the  faces  of 
the  boys  with  beaming  countenance,  he  would  begin 
to  talk,  relating  incidents,  stories  following  argu- 
ments or  demonstrating  propositions. 

He  made  it  a  point  to  associate  every  fact  imparted 


N 


IviFE  OF  Braxton  Craven.  91 

with  some  place,  person  or  time,  so  that  the  knowl- 
edge gained  would  be  '*  permanently  located,"  as  he 
called  it,  in  the  brain. 

Rev.  A.  P.  Tyer  relates  that  he  rode  in  a  bugg}^ 
with  Dr.  Craven  one  day  from  Trinity  to  Asheboro, 
a  distance  of  about  twenty-two  miles,  and  that  the 
Doctor  pointed  out  several  places  along  the  road 
which  corresponded  in  contour  to  the  battlefields  of 
Wagram  and  Hohenlinden.  He  would  locate  the 
opposing  forces,  tell  where  this  general  stood  and  that 
one  came  up  to  re-enforce  him,  etc.  '  'Now, ' '  said  the 
Doctor,  "whenever  I  read  history  or  fiction,  I  pick 
out  a  place  in  my  own  knowledge  and  imagine  the 
whole  thing  as  taking  place  there.  Thus  I  perma- 
nently locate  the  facts  in  my  mind,  and  if  I  should 
live  to  be  a  hundred  years  old,  I  would  involuntarih- 
rehearse  these  battles  every  time  I  passed  along  this 
road." 

This  incident  illustrates  his  method  of  teachins:. 
If  teaching  geography,  he  would  tell  some  historical 
fact  to  associate  with  the  places;  if  teaching  history, 
he  would  draw  maps  on  the  black-board,  speak  of 
the  geographical  nature  of  the  country,  or  some 
peculiarity  of  the  climate  or  people,  in  order  to  rivet 
the  lesson  in  the  mind.  The  writer  recollects  that, 
in  a  law-class,  the  question  of  circumstantial  evidence 
was  illustrated  by  an  incident  in  one  of  Cooper's 
novels,  where  the  presence  of  a  woman  in  a  horse- 
back part}^  was  detected  by  the  manner  in  which  the 


^2      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

twigs  were  broken  along  the  path.  ''A  woman," 
said  the  Doctor,  ' '  alwaj's  breaks  a  twig  b}'  turning 
it  outward  and  a  man  by  bending  it  down  toward 
him." 

x-\nother  characteristic  of  his  teaching  was  the 
emphasis  he  placed  upon  drilling.  During  the  last 
ten  minutes  of  nearly  every  recitation  he  would 
select  two  boj'^s  of  the  class  and  put  them  under  a 
rapid  fire  of  questions  covering  points  in  the  entire 
preceding  course.  In  this  way  each  member  of  the 
class  would  be  thoroughly  tested,  while  all  the  others 
would  have  the  benefit  of  frequent  repetitions. 

Occasionally  he  would  glance  at  his  notes,  but 
only  to  suggest  the  next  idea.  The  students  forgot 
all  about  clocks  and  watches,  and  were  most  always 
sorry  to  hear  the  bell  strike. 

After  the  establishment  of  the  college,  Dr.  Craven 
confined  his  lectures  to  Law,  Theology,  Logic  and 
Mythology,  except  that,  in  the  spring  of  the  year, 
he  reviewed  the  senior  class  in  everything  in  the 
curriculum,  testing  them  in  Mathematics,  Latin, 
Greek,  English,  Natural  Science,  and  so  on.  He 
was  recognized  as  one  of  the  best  law  teachers  in  the 
State,  and  in  mathematics  it  is  doubtful  if  he  had  an 
equal. 

Mr.  Willis  B.  Dowd,  now  a  lawyer  in  New  York 
City,  refers  to  Dr.  Craven  in  a  letter  as  follows : 

'  *  I  think  I  may  safely  lay  emphasis  on  the  fact 
that  he  was,  above  all  things,  a  builder  of  character^ 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      93 

and  supremel}'  endowed  with  the  power  of  discover- 
ing the  secret  springs  of  one's  life,  and  of  working 
upon  them  for  good  purposes.  His  control  over  his 
students  was  remarkable.  They  idolized  him  as 
Napoleon's  soldiers  worshiped  him.  Indeed,  we 
used  to  compare  the  Doctor  to  the  great  French  com- 
mander; they  were  alike  in  power  of  will  and  in 
silence.  Dr.  Craven  often  spoke  of  Bonaparte  in  the 
lecture-room  or  in  the  pulpit.  He  knew  all  the 
great  Napoleonic  battles  perfectl}^,  and  he  could  tell 
of  incidents  at  Wagram,  Austerlitz  or  Waterloo,  as 
though  he  had  been  one  of  the  "little  corporal's" 
soldiers.  Wherever  he  found  in  a  youth  promise  of 
commendable  growth,  he  applied  himself  to  the  stim- 
ulation of  that  young  man's  mind  and  heart,  to  the 
end  that  the  world  might  be  the  better  by  possessing 
one  more  man.  It  made  little  difference  that  the 
youth  was  poor;  he  was  not  denied  the  opportunity 
of  acquiring  an  education  on  that  account.  There 
was  more  than  one  poor  bo}^  in  college  when  I  was 
there,  and  the  only  difference  they  found  at  the 
hands  of  Dr.  Craven  was  that  he  was  a  little  kinder 
to  them  than  to  the  rest.  Great  and  good  soul ! 
abounding  in  charity  all  the  days  of  his  life,  how 
can  he  ever  be  esteemed  enough  by  the  people  of 
North  Carolina? 

"  Much  of  the  good  he  did  lives  after  him,  in  the 
lives  of  the  students;  much  of  it  can  never  be  known 
to  the  world. 


94  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

"  '  The  best  portion  of  a  good  man's  life, — 
His  little,  nameless,  unremembered  acts 
Of  kindness  and  of  love.' 

^  ^  ^  :^  ^ 

*  *  I  remember  very  well  to  have  heard  him  speak 
in  the  lecture-room,  on  one  occasion,  of  a  report  that 
was  going  the  rounds  to  the  effect  that  he  wanted  to 
be  elected,  and  was  likely  to  be  chosen,  a  bishop  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  I  can  see  him  now,  as  he 
sat  in  his  simple  cane-bottom  chair,  with  the  wide 
fireplace  and  the  black-board  above  for  background, 
and  held  up  a  wooden  tooth-pick  before  the  class. 
*I  would  not  give  that,'  said  he,  with  a  smile  on 
his  strong,  fine  face,  '  to  be  bishop.  I  have  never 
had  but  one  ambition,  and  that  was  and  is,  fo  make 

771671.'' 

"It  would  have  been  strange,  therefore,  had  any 
student,  with  a  spark  of  manhood  in  his  breast, 
failed  to  respond  to  such  a  spirit  of  altruism;  had 
any  ^-outh,  conscious  of  his  capacity  to  advance  in 
knowledge,  failed  to  endeavor  to  deserve  in  some 
measure  such  devotion  and  self-sacrifice  on  the  part 
of  his  teacher.  There  was  not,  indeed,  any  division 
among  the  Trinity  boys  of  nu'  day  as  to  the  great 
abilities  and  noble  manhood  of  our  chief  preceptor. 

' '  Looking  back  now  over  the  many  3'ears  that 
have  passed  since  m}-  graduation,  I  can  see  quite 
plainly  that  the  views  we  had  of  our  own  merits 
were  too  high,  but  I  am  equally  clear  that  we  did 


lyiFE  OF  Braxton  Cravkn.  95 

not  value  enough  the  virtues  of  the  great  man  who 
worked  so  well,  and  suffered  so  much,  for  us.  His 
interest  in  us  never  flagged.  He  was  lo3'al,  con- 
stant in  affection,  kind  and  attentive  to  the  end  of 
our  college  days.  Toward  the  end  of  our  senior 
year,  he  said  to  the  class  one  day,  '  Well,  young 
gentlemen,  your  school  days  are  drawing  to  a  close. 
I  am  sorr}^;  but  if  you  are  wound  up,  like  clocks, 
and  will  run  right  through  life,  I  am  satisfied.'  So 
it  is  that  the  voice  of  one  long  dead  speaks  across 
a  '  gap  of  time,'  and  beseeches  us  still  to  be  true  to 
the  high  aims  of  life, — and  no  wonder  we  listen  to 
its  whisperings  in  commingled  sorrow  and  gratitude. ' ' 

One  of  the  senior  classes  presented  a  gold-headed 
cane  to  him,  and  he  was  the  recipient  of  a  number 
of  other  testimonials  of  less  value  during  his  life. 

Dr.  Craven  was  a  great  inspiration  to  the  oratori- 
cal spirit  of  the  institution.  At  commencement  oc- 
casions, and  frequently  during  the  year,  he  required 
all  the  classes  to  give  public  exhibitions  of  oratory. 
He  gave  minute  attention  to  the  composition  of  ora- 
tions prepared  by  the  seniors,  and  made  it  a  point  to 
revise  and  correct  all  of  them  before  the  day  of  their 
delivery.  After  they  were  prepared  and  committed 
to  memory,  he  would  require  each  speaker  to  prac- 
tice in  his  presence,  giving  directions  as  to  gestures, 
pronunciation,  emphasis,  and  everything  pertaining 
to  good  oratory.  As  a  result  of  this  careful  train- 
ing the  fame  of  Trinity  College  oratory  extended 


96  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

throughout  the  State.  When  Talmage  was  at  the 
commencement  of  1881  he  remarked  that,  havmg 
attended  the  commencements  of  many  colleges,  he 
had  never  witnessed  a  superior  exhibition  of  oratory, 
nor  listened  to  finer  orations.  No  doubt  the  excel- 
lence of  the  oratory  was  due  in  no  small  measure  to 
the  fact  that  the  compositions  had  been  retouched 
by  the  felicitous  and  facile  pen  of  Dr.  Craven.  It 
has  been  sometimes  charged  that  he  wiote  outright 
the  speeches  of  the  senior  class.  This  he  did  not  do; 
but  he  did  retouch  the  compositions  of  some  of  them 
to  the  extent  that  the}'  could  hardly  be  recognized 
as  the  original  work  of  the  student. 

The  following  is  an  introduction  to  a  graduate's 
address  on  "Sham,"  which  was  added  by  Dr.  Cra- 
ven, and  illustrates  his  fine  st3^1e  and  versatility  : 

' '  The  inventive  genius  and  unparalleled  skill  of 
this  generation  will  be  chiefly  remembered  and 
studied  b}^  the  philosophers  and  historians  of  a  fu- 
ture day,  for  the  production  and  application  of  enamel, 
varnish  and  paint.  This  is  the  great  age  of  shatn, 
the  golden  epoch  of  infinitesimal  thinness,  the 
triumphal  coronation  of  tinsel  and  glitter,  and  the 
unclouded  millennial  day  of  unmitigated  deceit.  To 
be  was  an  old  virtue  well  enough  in  its  day,  suitable 
for  making  empires,  building  states  and  founding 
churches;  but  it  is  now  out  of  employment,  out  of 
office,  and  obsolete.  It  is  now  discovered  that  it  is 
a  waste  of  material  to  be  solid  all  through;  that  the 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      97 

interior  of  walls  or  character  may  just  as  well  be  soft 
brick  and  rubbish;  and  that  a  solid  gold  watch  is 
insufferable  presumption,  either  for  use  or  ornament,  --i 
The  great  maxim  of  modern  philosophy  is  that  the  f 
world  is  what  we  make  it,  not  what  the  Deity  made 
or  ever  intended,  but  what  man  makes  it,  calls  it, 
and  pronounces  it  to  be.  Hence,  talent  at  seeming  -^ 
eclipses  all  the  old  masters  of  fame;  counterfeiting 
is  the  lauded  achievement  of  immortal  genius;  pre- 
tence is  the  brilliant  achievement  of  art,  and  the  all- 
conquering  force  that  wins  the  loftiest  reputation 
among  men  and  deathless  devotion  from  the  ladies; 
and  nothing  has  currency  in  social  circles  or  the 
market  that  has  not  the  gleam  of  gold,  with  decep- 
tion within  and  falsehood  without.  Shakespeare  had 
some  sense,  but  he  did  not  know  everything,  hence 
he  blundered  when  he  said,  'All  the  world  is  a 
stage,  and  all  the  men  and  women  merely  players.' 
He  ought  to  have  said.  All  the  world  is  a  shop,  and 
all  the  men  and  women  merely  painters." 


98  lyiFE  OF  Braxton  Craven. 


CHAPTER  XVIIL 

Dr.  Craven  won  a  wide  reputation  as  a  preacher. 
He  began  preaching  in  his  'teens,  and  preached  con- 
tinuousl}'  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Most  of  his 
preaching  was  done  at  the  College  to  the  students 
and  villagers.  During  two  years  of  the  war  he  was 
stationed  at  Raleigh,  where  he  addressed  large  con- 
gregations and  made  a  great  impression,  not  only 
upon  the  members  of  his  own  flock,  but  among  peo- 
ple of  the  whole  State.  He  was  always  in  demand 
to  preach  at  the  District  and  Annual  Conferences, 
and  never  failed  to  come  up  to  expectations.  He 
had  a  fine  presence,  a  strong,  sonorous  voice,  and  a 
charm  of  manner  which  won  the  audience. 

Dr.  Craven  had  several  indispensable  requisites  to 
a  good  pulpit  orator.  He  had  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  human  nature,  and  therefore  knew  how  to 
touch  one's  sensibilities.  He  had  an  instinctive  ap- 
preciation of  the  value  of  figurative  speech,  illustra- 
tion and  anecdote,  as  means  both  of  entertaining 
and  fastening  ideas  upon  the  mind.  No  amount  of 
knowledge  or  logical  gymnastics  can  make  a  success- 
ful orator  without  the  resource  of  a  strong  imagina- 
tion. All  good  oratory  must  be  poetic.  The  neg- 
lect of  the  classics  and  the  imaginative  works  of  the 
English  language,  are  the  chief  causes  of  the  mod- 
ern decline  in  oratory.     This  age  is  too  matter-of- 


LiFK  OF  Braxton  Cravkn.      99 

fact.  Our  historievS,  books  of  science,  magazine 
articles  and  sermons  abound  in  statistical  informa- 
'tion  and  dry  ruminations,  but  are  bereft  of  that 
fancy,  idealism,  and  nice  combination  of  thoughts 
which  bring  truth  into  relief  and  arouse  sympathy 
in  its  behalf. 

Dr.  Craven's  discourses  were  full  of  apt  and  force- 
ful illustrations,  and  contained  many  flights  of  fancy. 
In  all  of  his  lectures  and  sermons  the  same  reference 
cannot  be  found  twice.  To  his  fine  imaginative 
powers  were  added  profound  knowledge,  logical  rea- 
soning, sound  judgment  and  philosophic  grasp.  No 
amount  of  art  or  study  of  methods  will  avail  without 
a  great  storehouse  of  knowledge,  and  knowledge 
itself  fails  without  that  wisdom  which  is  above  knowl- 
edge, born  of  experience,  hard  labor,  suffering  and 
sacrifices. 

Behind  this  intellectual  power  was  * '  a  great  throb- 
bing heart  that  would  embrace  the  world  in  its  arms 
of  affection,"  and  a  high  and  noble  purpose  kindling 
every  impulse. 

His  sermons  were  intensely  interesting,  inspiring 
and  uplifting.  There  was  little  disposition  among 
students  to  absent  themselves  from  church  when  he 
preached.  He  always  gave  them  something  to  think 
or  talk  about.  The  effect  of  his  discourses  is  well 
illustrated  by  a  statement  made  by  Mr.  Chas.  Hund- 
ley, who  said  that  Dr.  Craven  "spoiled  his  taste  for 
preaching." 


loo  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

Dr.  Craven  seldom  touched  on  theological  prob- 
lems. His  sermons  bore  upon  daih'  life,  and  had  to 
do  with  the  elevation — morall}^  industrially  and 
spiritually — of  the  people. 

At  a  camp-meeting  at  Fair  Haven,  Moore  County, 
on  one  occasion,  he  preached  a  powerful  sermon  on 
the  Prodigal  Son,  causing  upwards  of  a  hundred 
penitents  to  come  forward  in  response  to  the  invita- 
tion. A  notion  prevailed  pretty  generally  among 
the  people  in  that  section  that  no  one  could  get  reli- 
gion while  w^earing  jewelr}^,  and  the  mourners,  as 
the}^  passed  up,  voluntaril}^  took  off  their  rings, 
breastpins  and  earrings,  and  threw  them  into  a  hat, 
filling  it  almost  full. 

Among  the  manuscripts  of  Dr.  Craven  are  only, 
four  sermons  written  out  in  full.  One  of  them  is  on 
Methodism,  which  was  preached  at  Leaksville  Dis- 
trict Conference,  June,  1867;  again  at  Hillsboro,  and 
later  at  the  Annual  Conference  at  Wilmington, 
where  resolutions  were  passed  unanimousl}"  request- 
ing its  publication.  It  was  published  by  Innes  & 
Co.,  Baltimore,  in  1868.  The  others  are,  "  A  Ser- 
mon to  the  Graduating  Class,"  "The  Nature  of  the 
Soul,"  and  "The  Great  Promise."  The  last  two, 
judging  from  the  penmanship,  were  early  produc- 
tions. Besides  these,  there  were  about  four  hun- 
dred and  sixty-five  outlines  of  sermons,  some  of  them 
on  single  sheets  of  paper,  some  in  large  blank  books, 
and  many  in  smaller  books  that  one  might  carry  in 


Life  of  Braxton  Cravkn.  ioi 

a  coat  pocket.  He  was  in  the  habit  of  cutting  his 
texts  and  quotations  out  of  cheap  Bibles  which  he 
kept  on  hand,  and  pasting  them  in  his  note  books. 
In  this  way  he  mutilated  many  Bibles.  Among 
these  notes  are  found  now  and  then  several  pages  of 
connected  sentences,  so  that  there  is  no  trouble  to 
follow  the  line  of  thought.  There  are  some  para- 
graphs in  these  notes  written  out  in  full.  The  reader 
will  find  in  Part  Second  a  number  of  extracts,  indi- 
cating the  theological,  philosophical  and  literary 
character  of  the  discourses. 


I02  Life  of  Braxtox  Cravex. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

In  addition  to  his  sermons  and  class-room  lec- 
tures, Dr.  Craven  left  the  following  productions  : 
"The  Day  of  Small  Things,"  written  when  at  New 
Garden;  "What  Women  Can  Be,"  taking  high 
ground  in  favor  of  the  widest  intellectual  culture  for 
the  sex;  an  article  on  "Easter,"  conflict  as  to  the 
time  for  1876;  two  short  addresses  to  the  Masons; 
"Test  of  Scholarship";  "Memoir  of  Geo.  Make- 
peace," a  companion  of  his  early  life;  "Address  to 
the  Normal  School,  1857";  "Labor  Problem  in 
Randolph  County";  also  two  novels:  "Naomi 
Wise,"  and  "Mary  Barker."  One  relates  the  sad 
fate  of  a  poor  young  girl  who  was  betrayed,  and 
then  drowned  in  the  Deep  River;  the  other  is  an  In- 
dian story,  and  is  no  doubt  one  of  the  many  legends 
which  still  survive  in  that  community.  Both  of  the 
stories  were  published  in  pamphlet  form,  the  first 
passing  through  three  limited  editions,  and  the  sec- 
ond through  tw^o  editions.  The  philosophy  which 
runs  through  Naomi  Wise  is  ver}^  fine,  and  forcibly 
illustrates  the  philosophic  disposition  of  the  author's 
mind.  These  stories  were  written  when  Dr.  Craven 
was  quite  a  young  man,  and  he  always  referred  to 
them  as  school-boy  compositions.  He  said  the}^ 
were  crude  and  unpolished.  Mary  Barker  was 
issued  under  the  nom  de plwne  of  Charlie  Vernon. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  103 

Dr.  Craven  was  a  contributor  to  the  Evergreen, 
published  at  Asheboro  and  edited  b}^  Mr.  R.  H. 
Brown  in  1851. 

The  reader  may  liave  noticed  that  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  first  chapter  of  this  book  is  in  quota- 
tion marks.  The  quoted  part,  giving  a  rather  ro- 
mantic sketch  of  the  early  settlers  along  the  Deep 
River,  and  forming  a  sort  of  background  to  this  biog- 
raphy, is  taken  from  an  article  b}^  Dr.  Craven  that 
was  published  in  the  Evergreen. 


I04  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

*     *     *     *     "  fje  was  a  mark 
For  blight  and  desolation — compassed  around 
With  a  hatred  and  contention  ;  pain  was  mixed 
In  all  which  was  served  up  to  him.     *     *     * 

*     *     *     He  lived 
Through  that  which  had  been  death  to  many  men 
And  made  him  friends  of  mountains.     With  the  stars 
And  the  quick  spirit  of  the  Universe 
He  held  his  dialogues,  and  they  did  teach 
To  him  the  magic  of  their  mysteries." 

—Lord  Byron. 

Dr.  Craven  not  only  made  a  deep  impress  on  the 
life  of  students  who  came  under  his  influence,  but 
he  had  a  wonderful  sway  over  men  whom  he  came 
in  contact  with  in  the  outside  world — in  politics,  in 
the  church,  and  in  the  industrial  lines.  He  was  not 
at  all  domineering  in  spirit,  yet  his  personality  was 
so  great  that  his  mere  wishes  had  great  weight  with 
those  he  dealt  with:  and  when  he  exerted  himself  in 
behalf  of  anything,  the  power  of  his  presence  and 
the  superiority  of  his  wisdom,  made  all  opposition 
go  down  before  him.  In  his  faculty  meetings, 
which  were  held  weekly,  there  was  no  bickering, 
and  he  was  seldom  opposed  in  the  smallest  degree. 
He  knew  the  value  of  counsel,  and  he  sought  and 
accepted  advice  from  his  faculty  on  all  the  impor- 
tant questions  which  involved  the  College  adminis- 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      105 

tration.  At  church  conferences,  although  he  did 
not  meddle  with  the  distribution  of  places,  his  in- 
fluence with  the  bishops  was  so  great  that  his  favor 
was  courted  almost  as  much  as  that  of  a  bishop. 
He  was  secretary  of  the  Conference  for  sixteen  years. 
He  seldom  spoke  on  the  Conference  floor,  but  when 
he  did,  he  carried  the  day.  He  had  no  match  as  a 
debater,  and  a  large  majority  of  the  members  were 
Craven  supporters  up  to  his  death.  It  would  have 
been  a  marvelous  fact  if  a  man  of  such  commanding 
influence  had  not  antagonists  and  enemies.  Dr. 
Craven  had  them  in  thick  squadrons.  Several  very 
bright  and  aspiring  preachers  were  envious  of  the 
large  place  which  he  filled  in  the  minds  and  hearts 
of  Methodist  clergymen  and  laymen,  and  they  stirred 
up  rancor,  and  threw  every  possible  obstacle  in  his 
path.  They  opposed  the  proposition  to  connect  the 
College  with  the  Conference,  and  then,  failing  in 
that,  attacked  the  administration,  and  insidiously 
sought  to  belittle  the  man  and  the  College.  At  first 
their  forces  were  strong  and  powerful,  but  they 
gradually  dwindled,  fell  into  fragments,  and  finally 
met  overwhelming  defeat. 

Dr.  Craven  reaHzed  that  he  had  enemies,  and 
knew  who  they  were.  Yet  he  made  no  reply  to 
their  assaults,  and  it  was  not  in  his  nature  to  harbor 
spites  or  enmities.  He  suffered  in  silence  the  stings 
of  ingratitude  and  persecution.  Dr.  E.  A.  Yates 
says  that  when  pursued  in  the  Conference,  Dr.  Cra- 
8 


io6  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

ven  would  turn  aside  in  his  chair,  fold  his  arms,  and 
never  even  cast  a  glance  at  his  opponents.  Prof. 
Gannaway  saj's  he  never  heard  Dr.  Craven  sa}'  an 
unkind  or  harsh  thing  about  even  his  most  pro- 
nounced foes.  He  was  like  a  solid  promontory  on 
the  sea,  against  which  the  envious  waves  dash  in 
fur}',  but  only  to  beat  themselves  into  mist. 

It  was  very  natural  for  a  preacher  of  Dr.  Craven's 
reputation  to  be  more  or  less  talked  of  for  bishop, 
and  his  enemies  industriously  circulated  the  report 
that  he  was  a  candidate,  and  with  equal  industr}^ 
opposed  the  proposition.  Although  not  a  candidate, 
Dr.  Craven  received  a  number  of  votes  for  that  office 
at  the  General  Conference  in  1882.  Dr.  Yates,  who 
attended  the  Conference  with  Dr.  Craven,  states 
that  he  had  no  intimation  from  him  whatever  that 
he  desired  to  be  elected  bishop.  Mr.  J.  Addison 
lycach,  brother-in-law  of  Dr.  Craven,  says  that  he 
and  others  often  urged  Dr.  Craven  to  aspire  to  the 
bishopric,  but  that  he  never  seemed  at  all  inclined 
to  yield  to  the  entreat)^  All  of  his  hopes  and  aspi- 
rations seemed  to  have  been  centered  in  the  College. 
•  Soon  after  his  return  from  the  General  Conference, 
he  became  low-spirited,  and  began  to  look  worn  and 
broken  in  health.  Fifty  years  of  incessant  and  severe 
mental  and  physical  activity,  together  with  the  finan- 
cial troubles  of  the  College,  had  told  on  his  constitu- 
tion. He  lost  flesh  and  power  of  endurance.  His 
face  looked  haggard,  his  eyes  sunken,  and  the  fur- 


lyiFE  OF  Braxton  Craven.  107 

rows  of  his  face  deep.  He  found  that  his  accustomed 
labors  fatigued  him  more  than  ever,  and  that  his 
sleep,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  was  irregular  and 
broken.  However,  he  managed  to  drag  through  the 
year's  work.  His  health  continuing  to  fail,  he  went 
to  Piedmont  Springs,  Stokes  Count}^,  in  July,  remain- 
ing several  weeks.  But  receiving  no  decided  benefit 
from  the  water,  he  returned  to  his  home,  stopping 
en  route  at  Winston  to  see  his  friend.  Col.  J.  W. 
Alspaugh.  Col.  Alspaugh  urged  him  to  go  North 
and  consult  a  specialist.  To  this  Dr.  Craven  replied, 
**  I  will  go,  but  you  are  trying  to  cheat  death  of  its 
victim."  In  September,  Dr.  Craven,  in  company 
with  his  son  Will,  made  the  trip  to  Baltimore  and 
consulted  Dr.  Opie.  The  physician  prescribed  cer- 
tain medicine  and  diet,  and  giving  such  encourage- 
ment as  he  could,  sent  the  patient  back  home.  The 
physician  communicated  the  fact  to  Will  that  the 
worst  might  happen  at  any  moment.  However,  the 
patient  enjo3^ed  his  trip  North,  as  he  had  always  en- 
joyed others,  and  came  back  in  hopeful  and  buoyant 
spirits. 

M  There  was  another  trouble  on  the  mind  of  Dr.* 
Craven,  aside  from  ill  health  or  financial  embarrass- 
ments, and  that  was  a  great  misfortune  which  had 
happened  to  Miss  Kate,  his  youngest  daughter.  In 
the  fall  of  1 88 1  she  entered  Greensboro  Female  Col- 
lege, and  sometime  before  Christmas  she  had  an 
attack  of  neuralgia.     One  Sunday  night,  while  sit- 


io8  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

ting  on  the  floor  near  the  fireplace,  the  flames  leaped 
upon  her,  and  in  an  instant  a  portion  of  her  body 
was  burned  to  a  blister.  The  news  was  telegraphed 
to  her  parents.  Mrs.  Craven  reached  her  bedside 
the  next  day.  Her  father,  then  at  Asheboro,  arrived 
on  Tuesday.  For  several  weeks  the  issue  between 
life  and  death  was  uncertain.  Dr.  Craven  was  anx- 
ious for  her  to  be  brought  home,  so  that  he  could 
assist  in  nursing  her.  Accordingly,  the  eighth  week 
after  the  accident,  the  risk  was  taken,  and  she  was 
placed  upon  a  cot  and  brought  home.  The  trip 
through  the  country  from  High  Point  to  Trinity  was 
made  in  a  w^agon,  and  occupied  nearl}^  half  a  day. 
Her  father  held  an  umbrella  over  her  all  the  way, 
and  sought  by  pleasant  conversation  to  beguile  the 
time  and  keep  her  cheerful.  For  weeks  after  she 
returned  home  her  injuries  showed  no  signs  of  heal- 
ing. She  lay  upon  a  bed  in  her  parents'  room  from 
day  to  day  without  being  able  to  turn  on  either  side. 
This  sorrow  fell  with  crushing  weight  upon  her 
father.  Being  his  youngest  child,  then  just  budding 
into  womanhood,  his  solicitude  for  her  was  peculiar. 
Besides,  she  was  a  woman  of  rare  beauty,  having 
very  black  hair,  a  delicate  white  skin,  somewhat  lan- 
guid gray  eyes,  and  a  soft  and  pathetic  voice.  How- 
ever, he  never  permitted  her  to  suspect  that  he  was 
at  all  downcast.  In  her  presence  he  was  always 
bright  and  playful.  Often,  in  the  afternoons  and  at 
night,  he  would  sit  by  her  bedside  reading  to  her 


lyiFE  OF  Braxton  Craven.  109 

some  interesting  event  from  the  newspapers,  or  some 
story.  Among  the  things  that  he  read  to  her  were 
Spookendyke  Tales,  which  were  very  funny,  and 
greatly  enjoyed  by  both  of  them.  In  July,  1882,  he 
went  to  Concord  to  speak  at  the  dedication  of  a  cot- 
ton factory,  and  on  his  return  brought  her  a  canary 
bird.  Many  nights  he  sat  by  her  side  reading  and 
holding  her  hand  until  she  fell  asleep. 


no  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

One  chilly  morning  in  November  Dr.  Craven 
walked  into  Prof.  Gannaway's  recitation  room  to 
consult  him  in  reference  to  some  work.  His  voice 
was  feeble  and  tremulous.  The  Professor's  soul  was 
stirred  with  pity  at  the  sad  and  wan  countenance. 
He  urged  the  Doctor  to  throw  off  the  cares  of  the 
College  and  seek  rest.  The  appeal  was  uttered  in 
such  deep  sincerity  and  sympathy  that  the  Doctor 
turned  away  and  looked  out  of  the  window  to  con- 
ceal his  emotion,  while  the  tears  streamed  from  his 
eyes.  He  looked  out  wistfully  upon  the  old  campus, 
where  the  feet  of  so  many  3^oung  men  had  tread, 
upon  the  beautiful  landscape  beyond,  and  the  blue 
skies  above.  The  autumn  leaves,  seared  and  3'ellow, 
were  dropping  from  their  stems  and  creeping  along 
the  ground  as  if  seeking  shelter  from  the  coming 
winter.  The  season  of  the  flowers  and  fruits  was 
gone,  and  the  barns  and  granaries  were  bending  with 
the  fullness  of  the  yield.  The  winter  birds  had 
already  come  to  peck  upon  the  wood.  Perhaps  in 
the  bleakness  and  bareness  of  nature  the  wear}"  soul 
read  a  mystic  meaning,  w4iich  only  those  in  the 
decline  of  life  may  know.  The  words  just  spoken 
had  deeply  moved  him,  for  he  had  seldom  in  his  life 
received  or  felt  the  need  of  sympathy  from  the  out- 
side world.     Not  that  he  lacked  friends,  but  that  he 


lyiFE  OF  Braxton  Craven.  hi 

had  heretofore  been  the  helper  and  sympathizer  of 
others.  Accustomed  to  self-reHance  from  his  youth 
up,  he  had  learned  to  live  without  sympathy  or  com- 
passion. He  had  doubtless  for  the  first  time  realized 
how  much  longer  and  brighter  his  days  might  have 
been  if  he  had  felt  more  of  that  warmth  of  fellow- 
feeling.  As  he  stood  looking  out  of  that  window, 
some  idea  of  what  came  to  his  mind  may  be  learned 
from  a  sermon,  once  delivered  to  the  graduating  class, 
in  which  he  refers  to  his  own  life : 

"You  now  have  friends,  but  they  may  pass  away. 
That  commingling  of  souls  that  now  beguiles  the 
passing  hour  may  become  a  stranger  to  your  heart; 
the  day  may  come  when  you  would  give  worlds  for 
one — just  one — to  love  you  like  a  brother,  when 
your  soul  reaches  out  the  tendrils  of  affection  only 
to  be  frozen  to  death;  when  j^our  warm,  inquiring 
eye  sees  nothing  but  the  curled  lip  of  disdain;  when 
your  great  throbbing  heart  beats  in  a  vacuum.  It 
is  so  hard,  so  bitter,  so  torturing  to  a  man  of  a  great, 
loving  heart,  one  that  would  embrace  the  world  in  its 
arms  of  affection,  to  find  himself  in  a  vast  desert 
where  none  will  call  him  friend  or  brother.  Many 
a  man,  at  such  an  hour,  has  learned  to  curse  God 
and  hate  the  w^orld,  and  our  only  resource  is  in 
religion. 

' '  In  all  your  ways,  let  me  entreat  you  to  remem- 
ber the  orphan  by  day  and  by  night;  his  is  a  hard, 
oh,  it  is  a  bitter  lot!     There  is  much  more  poetry 


112  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

than  truth  in  the  world's  pretended  kindness  to  the 
poor,  sorrowful- faced  little  boy  that  has  no  mother 
to  love  him  and  no  father  to  protect  him.  He  is 
sorel}'  oppressed  in  his  boyhood;  he  may  dig  him- 
self a  home  in  the  mountain  granite,  but  orphan 
hau7its  him  like  a  midnight  ghost.  In  his  ma7ihood, 
the  lingering  cuj'se  of  his  sad  co7idition  rests  upon  him. 
This  world  has  no  cavern  to  hide  him  from  the  op- 
position. I  have  seen  his  tears  flow  as  if  the  foun- 
tains of  his  soul  were  broken  up.  I  have  seen  him 
bow  before  God  and  ask  for  love  to  bind  up  his 
broken  heart,  and  I  have  seen  the  cold  combinations 
of  this  world  grind  him  to  powder.  Alwa3'S,  my 
young  friends,  have  a  kind  w^ord  for  him,  and  treat 
him  as  a  brother. ' '  * 

■^  -^  ■^  ■^  ■:^  :^ 

Dr.  Craven  was  obliged  to  give  up  the  active  part 
of  College  work.  But  on  the  following  Sunday  after 
this  incident,  he  was  unusuall}'  bright  and  buoyant. 
He  was  very  fond  of  music — both  vocal  and  instru- 
mental— and  nearly  every  Sunday  the  family  and 
friends  gathered  at  his  house  and  sang  hymns.  He 
read  music  readily,  and  once  sang  in  a  full,  round 
bass  voice.  On  this  Sunda}^  night  he  took  a  pecu- 
liar pleasure  in  music,  and  he,  in  compan}^  with  the 
family,  sang  a  whole  song-book  through. 

Monda}'  he  was  not  so  well,  but  he  went  to  the 
College,  and  in  the  afternoon  to  a  field  in  the  rear  of 

♦The  sermon  in  full  is  in  Part  Second. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      113 

the  house,  to  see  about  digging  some  potatoes.  The 
weather  being  damp  and  cold,  his  wife  carried  his 
cloak  and  overshoes  to  him,  and  persuaded  him  to 
return  to  the  house.  Tuesday  was  election  day, 
and  he  seemed  to  be  brighter  and  stronger.  He  had 
always  taken  a  lively  interest  in  politics,  an  interest 
which  was  increased  many  fold  by  the  fact  that  at 
every  election  a  number  of  his  old  students  were 
candidates  for  ofhce.  Mr.  Sam  Bradshaw,  a  young 
and  promising  graduate  of  Trinity,  was  a  candidate 
for  Clerk  of  the  Court  in  Randolph  county.  Dr. 
Craven  was  much  interested  in  his  success,  and  dur- 
ing the  day  had  consulted  and  advised  with  a  num- 
ber of  the  local  leaders.  He  was  anxious  to  vote, 
and  sent  for  his  son,  Dr.  Jim  Craven,  to  come  over 
and  take  him  out  in  his  buggy.  The  polling  place 
was  a  mile  or  more  distant.  However,  Mrs.  Craven 
objected.  She  had  noted  that  he  was  more  or  less 
excited  and  fatigued,  having  already  made  several 
trips  to  the  College  and  talked  pretty  incessantly  the 
whole  forenoon.  He  yielded  to  her  wishes.  Instead 
of  going  to  vote,  he  rode  out  to  look  after  some 
wheat-sowing.  After  dinner  he  lay  upon  the  lounge 
and  slept  soundly  for  two  hours.  The  election  went 
well,  and  he  was  rejoiced  over  the  result.  At  night, 
Misses  Fannie  and  Ida  Shaw  and  Ella  Carr  came  in 
to  see  and  entertain  Mis^  Kate.  All  of  the  family 
and  visitors  were  in  the  bed-room.  Dr.  Craven  was 
lying  on  the  lounge  reading  the  New  York  Herald^ 


114  I^iFE  OF  Braxton  Craven. 

while  the  children  were  making  merry  with  some 
chestnuts  which  Miss  Fannie  Shaw  had  brought 
from  High  Point.  When  he  had  perused  the  paper 
for  awhile,  he  joined  in  the  merriment,  and  "car- 
ried on  a  good  deal  of  nonsense, ' '  as  his  wife  ex- 
pressed it,  w4th  the  children.  He  twitted  Miss  Fannie 
about  her  new  hat,  which  had  a  ver}-  large  semi-cir- 
cular brim  standing  out  in  front,  known  as  the  Lil- 
lian Russell  hat.  He  created  a  good  deal  of  amuse- 
ment b}^  taking  the  hat  away  from  her  and  trying  it 
on  his  wife.  He  facetiously  scolded  Mrs.  Craven 
for  not  allowing  him  to  eat  as  much  supper  as  he 
wanted.  Then  he  *  *  pitched  into ' '  the  chestnuts 
with  keen  relish.  Some  one  commenting  on  the 
great  number  of  them  that  were  unsound,  he  re- 
marked that  as  his  wife  objected  to  his  eating  salt 
meat  for  supper,  he  didn't  suppose  she  would  object 
if  he  ate  fresh  meat.  Miss  Kate  seemed  to  enjoy 
the  merriment,  and  laughed  quite  heartily  at  some 
of  the  funny  things  said  and  done.  Even  the  canary 
seemed  to  be  highly  entertained.  Mrs.  Craven  was 
quite  uneasy,  "but  didn't  let  on."  About  lo  o'clock 
the  party  broke  up,  and  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Craven 
retired  for  the  night.  On  lying  down,  the  Doctor 
said,  "Now,  Kate,  I'll  beat  you  going  to  sleep;"  and 
so  he  did,  soon  falling  into  heavy  slumber.  Miss 
Kate,  however,  was  restless  and  w^akeful,  and  shortly 
after  twelve  o'clock  she  noticed  that  her  father  was 
breathing  with  unusual  heaviness.     She  called  to  her 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  115 

mother.  Mrs.  Craven  shook  him,  and  she  asked  if 
he  felt  bad.  He  replied  that  he  believed  he  would 
sit  up  in  a  chair  awhile,  and  as  he  got  up  to  walk  to 
the  chair  he  fell  forward  upon  his  face  near  the  bed- 
side of  his  daughter,  who  reached  out  and  caught 
hold  of  his  garment.  Mrs.  Craven  hurried  to  him, 
and  sought  to  help  him  up,  but  he  lay  motionless 
and  speechless  upon  the  floor.  She  uttered  a  scream 
for  help,  and,  dashing  out  of  the  house,  ran  bare- 
footed over  a  stony  road  towards  the  home  of  her 
son,  Dr.  Jim  Craven,  whom  she  met  on  the  way,  he 
having  already  heard  the  alarm  and  interpreted  its 
meaning.  Lights  began  to  appear  in  the  windows  of 
the  village  houses,  and  the  news  spread  abroad  that 
Dr.  Craven  was  dead.  In  a  short  while  the  whole 
community,  including  men,  women  and  children, 
both  black  and  white,  gathered  about  the  house, 
gazing  at  each  other  with  wlid  eyes  and  sorrowing 
faces.  There  was  no  more  rest  in  store  for  the  vil- 
lagers or  students  that  night.  Fires  were  kindled, 
and  groups  of  students  and  citizens  sat  around  the 
blaze,  giving  vent  to  their  great  sorrow  and  rehears- 
ing the  splendid  achievements  and  noble  deeds  of 
their  fallen  chief. 


ii6      Life  of  Braxton  Cravkn. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Thursday  morning  the  lid  of  the  casket  was  re- 
moved, and  throngs  of  people  came  to  take  a  last 
look  into  the  face  of  their  friend  and  benefactor.  At 
2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  body  was  borne  from 
the  residence  to  the  College  Chapel,  where  a  large 
congregation  was  in  waiting. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Lewis  opened  the  services  by  reading 
the  90th  Psalm,  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  T.  M. 
Jones,  who  read  from  I  Corinthians,  xv,  20-58. 
Hj-mn  737  was  announced  by  Rev.  Marcus  L.  Wood, 
"  What  though  the  arm  of  conquering  death,"  etc. 
At  the  conclusion  of  this  song,  Mr.  Wood  preached 
a  sermon  from  the  fourth  chapter  of  John,  and  4th 
verse:  "I  must  work  the  works  of  Him  that  sent 
me  while  it  is  day,  for  the  night  cometh  when  no 
man  can  work." 

In  the  course  of  his  remarks,  he  said:  ' '  For  varied 
scholarship,  he  had  not  a  superior  upon  the  conti- 
nent. Had  he  made  a  specialty  of  any  one  thing, 
he  would  have  been  the  equal,  if  not  the  superior,  of 
au}^  man  in  any  country.  ^^  *  His  monument  is 
this  College.  To  it  he  gave  his  best  energies,  his 
mone}^  and  his  life.  Trinity  College  crushed  him. 
He  ought  not  to  be  dead,  and  would  not  be  had  he 
received  the  sympathy  and  the  support  he  so  richly 
deserved.     Oh,  how  long  will  the  church  stand  off 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  117 

and  see  our  colleges  crush   our  Duncans  and  our 
Cravens?"'"^ 

After  the  sermon,  the  procession  moved  to  the 
cemetery,  Rev.  Mr.  Wood  and  Rev.  Dr.  Bobbitt  lead- 
ing. Then  followed  the  hearse,  and  pall  bearers,  who 
were,  Col.  JuHan  S.  Carr,  Mr.  J.  H.  Ferree,  Rev.  B. 
C.  Phillips,  Rev.  H.  C.  Thomas,  Rev.  R.  P.  Troy, 
Mr.  J.  M.  Odell,  Prof.  N.  C.  English,  Mr.  Dennis 
Curtis,  Mr.  Allen  Tomlinson,  Mr.  L.  IP.  Andrews 
and  Dr.  F.  C.  Frazier.  Next  came  the  family  and 
relatives,  the  Trustees  of  the  College,  members  of 
the  Conference,  Faculty,  students  and  friends. 

The  deceased  was  laid  to  rest  in  a  lot  where  no 
mark  of  sorrow  had  before  been  made. 

There  alone  a  red  clay  mound  was  raised  over  his 
remains,  and  upon  it  were  placed  a  few  flowers  which 
the  season's  blight  had  spared,  dewed  with  the  tears 
of  widow  and  children.  The  benediction  was  pro- 
nounced, and  the  concourse  turned  away  with  heavy 
hearts. 

^  :^  :^  ^  ^  ^ 

Among  others  attending  the  funeral,  not  already 
mentioned,  were  Judge  John  A.  Gilmer,  Mr.  J.  R. 
Bulla,  Mr.  W.  H.  Hill,  Mr.  Wm.  Branson,  Mrs.  J. 
A.  Odell,  Rev.  W.  S.  Creasy,  Mr.  Jas.  Southgate, 
Sr.,  Rev.  J.  Ed.  Thompson,  Col.  J.  W.  Alspaugh, 
Rev.  C.   C.   Dodson,   Rev.  J.  J.   Renn,   Dr.  R.  W. 


*  The  sermon  in  full  is  published  in  Branson's  North  Carolina  Ser- 
mons, Vol.  II. 


ii8  LiFK  OF  Braxton  Craven. 

Thomas,  Prof.  H.  W.  Reinhart,  Rev.  B.  C.  Phillips, 
Rev.  P.  H.  Dalton,  Rev.  N.  E.  Coltrane,  Rev.  R. 
P.  Bibb,  Rev.  R.  T.  N.  Stephenson. 

From  the  man^^  letters  of  sj^mpathy  received  b}^ 
the  widow,  a  few  extracts  are  given  as  follows : 

Hon.  A.  M.  Scales:  ' '  The  whole  State  was  shocked 
by  the  announcement,  and  to-day  mourns  with  his 
bereaved  family  over  a  common  loss.  I  will  enter 
into  no  eulogy  of  his  life  and  services;  he*  needs 
none.  His  monuments  live  to-day,  and  will  live  to 
all  time  in  the  cause  of  education,  which  he  has  so 
much  advanced  in  the  State;  in  the  noble  College 
which  he  has  established  and  built  up;  in  the  great 
number  of  honored  and  useful  young  men  whom  he 
has  educated  and  sent  throughout  the  State  and 
Church  to  serve  and  adorn  them.  These  tell  of  his 
life  and  life's  work,  and  speak  for  him  more  loudl}^ 
than  any  eulogy,  by  pen  or  word,  to  future  genera- 
tions. ' ' 

Col.  J.  W.  Alspaugh:  "The  death  of  Dr.  Craven, 
the  dearest  friend  I  ever  had,  the  one  of  all  others  I 
loved  most,  first  struck  me  like  a  great  calamity, 
and  ever  since  I  have  felt  that  life  can  never  be  to 
me  what  it  was  before.  He  was  the  truest,  noblest 
and  best  friend  any  man  ever  had.  How  much  I 
sympathize  with  you  and  that  poor  afflicted  daugh- 
ter, the  very  idol  of  her  departed  father.  How  I 
wish  I  could  do  something  to  cheer  her.  Her  pale, 
sad  face,  as  I  last  saw  it,  is  constantl}^  before  my 


Life  of  Braxton  Cravkn.  119 

eyes.  How  glad  I  would  be  if  I  had  the  power  to 
cheer  her  and  make  her  feel  bright  and  happ}-  once 
again.  The  memory  of  Dr.  Craven  shall  live  on  in 
ages  to  come,  when  the  names  of  those  who  strove 
against  him  shall  be  long  forgotten  in  their  graves. ' ' 

Rev.  ly.  S.  Burkhead:  "For  more  than  thirty 
years  we  have  been  warm  personal  friends.  We 
have  sometimes  differed  in  opinion  about  various 
matters,  but  always  in  love.  I  almost  thought  aloud 
to  Dr.  Craven.     O,  how  I  shall  miss  him!" 

Rev.  T.  DeWitt  Talmage  (telegram):  "Brooklyn, 
Nov.  loth,  1882. — Mj^grief  at  Doctor  Craven's  death 
is  inexpressible.  He  was  great  and  good.  My  sym- 
pathies for  his  famih'.  And  for  Trinity  College, 
the  loss  is  overwhelming. ' ' 

Rev.  Frank  H.  Wood:  ' '  There  is  one  thing  in  the 
Doctor's  death  which,  as  a  member  of  the  Confer- 
ence, I  shall  always  regret,  and  that  is  that  the  debt 
of  Trinity  College  was  not  paid  before  he  died.  I 
know  it  would  have  been  such  a  gratification  to  him. 
But  then  he  is  freed  from  that  burden  now,  and  he 
goes  to  enjoy  the  full  fruition  of  all  his  toils  and 
burdens  done  and  suffered  in  this  life." 

S.  H.  Helsabeck:  *  ^  "Dear  man!  I  am  think- 
ing that  hard  work  and  sore  troubles  killed  him. 
But  then  I  reckon  a  good  man  cannot  die  at  a  wrong 
time." 

Rev.  N.  M.  Jurney,  correspondence  Methodist  Ad- 
vance :  "It  was  a  sudden  close  of  a  long  and  useful 


I20      Life  of  Braxton  Cravkn. 

life — ^a  life  marked  with  brilliant  achievements 
through  great  obstacles;  a  life  great  because  of  the 
good  accomplished — rising  up  unknown  and  setting 
down  immortal.  But  Dr.  Craven  had  his  enemies  as 
well  as  friends,  as  all  other  great  men  have.  Even  in 
the  rank  and  file  of  Israel's  host,  the  dagger  was  not 
wanting,  and  was  often  drawn  when  he  could  not 
see  it.  There  is  a  hand  to  strike  the  head  that  rises 
above  the  level,  and  his  superior  head  and  heart  pro- 
voked opposition.  But  he  is  gone,  and  his  like  will 
not  be  seen  in  our  da3\  "     *     >i^     ^ 

Raleigh  News  arid  Observer :  ' '  Dr.  Craven  was  a 
strong  man;  remarkable  in  personal  appearance — 
remarkable  in  intellectual  characteristics.  He  has 
made  his  impress  upon  society,  and  has  left  an  en- 
during monument  to  his  wisdom,  energy  and  devo- 
tion to  the  cause  of  Christianity  and  the  cause  of 
education." 

Editorial  Methodist  Advance :  *  *  "  Intellect- 
ually he  was  capable  of  almost  anything  that  mind 
can  compass.  His  large  attainments  in  learning,  the 
influence  which  he  has  wielded  among  the  intellect- 
ual men  of  his  Church  and  State,  and  the  work  he 
has  done,  all  under  difficulties  and  embarrassments 
which  would  have  discouraged  or  even  crushed  an 
ordinary  man,  make  him  peerless  among  those  with 
whom  he  acted.  Trinity  College  is  his  monument. 
Whatever  it  is,  he  made  it.  For  it  he  lived  and 
labored,  and  we  do  not  know  but  it  may  be  truth- 


Life  of  Br-axton  Craven.  121 

fully  said,  in  some  sense,  for  it  he  died.  Under  the 
folds  of  that  cloud  which  hangs  over  the  institution 
which  w^as  the  dream  of  his  youth  and  the  idol  of 
his  mature  manhood,  he  has  gone  down  to  a  prema- 
ture grave,  bequeathing  it  to  the  church  to  whose 
glory  he  consecrated  his  genius  and  whose  ministry 
owes  so  much  to  his  training  hand.  ^  *  ^^  A 
man  who  could  have  won  distinction  anywhere,  he 
literally  stuck  to  the  soil  of  his  nativity  with  the 
devotion  of  a  child  to  its  mother.  A  man  who  could 
have  accumulated  wealth  in  any  land  where  fortunes 
are  won,  he  preferred  poverty  and  a  life  of  toil  for 
the  honor  of  his  church  and  the  glory  of  his  State. ' ' 
On  November  8th  the  students  of  Trinity  College 
met  and  adopted  the  following  resolutions : 

To  the  Memory  of  B.  Craven^  D.  Z>. ,  LL.  D.  : 

Whereas,  It  hath  pleased  God  in  His  infinite 
wisdom  and  goodness  to  take  from  us  our  venerable 
and  beloved  President,  Dr.  B.  Craven;  and  whereas, 
we,  as  a  school,  feel  sadly  bereaved  by  this  painful 
dispensation  of  Providence,  and  desire  to  mingle  our 
sighs  and  tears  with  those  of  the  bereaved,  to  tender 
them  our  heartfelt  sympathy,  and  to  leave  on  record 
some  testimonial  of  our  appreciation  of  the  charac- 
ter and  worth  of  this  great  man,  therefore  be  it 

Resolved  i.  That  w^hilst  it  becomes  us  to  yield  in 
submission  to  the  will  of  God,  we  cannot  but  do  it 
in  our  present  bereavement  with  great  reluctance. 
9 


122  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

Resolved  2.  That  in  his  death  the  church  has  lost 
one  of  its  ablest  ministers,  the  State  a  wise  counselor, 
and  the  college  its  life-long  devoted  friend  and  bene- 
factor. 

Resolved  J .  That  in  him  we  have  lost  a  great  man, 
a  kind,  noble  and  loving  preceptor,  whom  no  student 
knew  but  to  love  and  respect;  and  that  for  his  un- 
tiring energy  and  care  in  training  and  developing  us 
into  the  highest  and  broadest  moral  and  intellectual 
manhood,  w^e  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude  which  can 
never  be  paid.  Faithful  to  his  duty  and  to  himself, 
he  was  ever  ready  to  stand  for  us  like  a  column  of 
defence  against  wrong  of  ever}'  kind.  Ever  kind, 
amiable  and  loving,  he  never  withheld  from  us  any 
favor  which  he  considered  necessary  for  our  comfort 
or  improvement;  but  always,  with  an  affection  which 
no  student  could  mistake  or  misapprehend,  he  kindly 
denied  us  whatever  his  far-reaching  judgment  per- 
ceived to  be  for  our  hurt. 

Resolved  ^.  That  we  do  greatly  love  him,  and  will 
ever  strive  to  cherish  the  manh^  sentiments  and  the 
worth}'  ambition  which  he  labored  with  so  much 
diligence  to  instill  into  our  hearts. 

Resolved ^.  That  as  a  token  of  our  sorrow  for  him, 
we  dress  in  the  sable  habiliments  of  mourning  the 
front  of  the  College,  the  Chapel,  and  each  Society 
Hall,  and  that  each  student  wear  the  usual  badge  of 
mourning  for  thirty  days. 

Resolved  6.   That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  123 

spread  upon  the  record  of  each  Literary  Societ}^,  and 
be  furnished  the  Nashville  Christian  Advocate,  the 
Raleigh  Christian  Advocate,  and  the  Methodist  Ad- 
va7ice,  with  the  request  of  their  pubUcation. 

W.  P.  Bynum, 
M.  A.  Smith, 
A1.BERT  Anderson, 
F.  M.  Shamberger, 
W.  A.  Pierce, 
^     Comtnittee  for  Senior  Class. 

Memorial  services  were  held  by  some  students 
and  citizens  at  Kinston  Thursday  night,  November 
30th.  Mr.  J.  Q.  Jackson  presided,  and  made  an 
address.  Mr.  John  W.  Collins  acted  as  Secretary. 
Impressive  speeches  ^vere  made  by  Prof.  Joseph  Kin- 
sey,  Rev.  F.  D.  Swindell  and  Rev.  N.  M.  Jurney, 
after  which  appropriate  resolutions  were  passed. 

James  W.  Reid,  at  the  commencement  of  1883: 
"^^  ^  "  Go  stand  with  me  on  yonder  hill  at  the  grave 
of  the  priest  who  reared  this  temple,  and  who  for  so 
many  years  ministered  at  its  altars;  view  his  life, 
his  work,  the  influence  he  set  in  motion,  and  tell  me 
if  the}^  ever  lay  to  rest  any  nobler  dust,  even  in  the 
great  English  pantheon.  ^  >i<  i  had  rather  live 
the  life  that  Braxton  Craven  lived,  set  in  motion  the 
influence  for  good  that  he  started,  help  to  an  educa- 
tion the  scores  of  poor  young  men  he  aided,  have  my 
named  embalmed  in  such  a  precious  memory  as  he 


124      Life  of  Braxtox  Cravex. 

has  left  behind,  and  be  buried  even  in  the  'potter's 
field'  in  a  pauper's  coffin,  sleep  isolated  and  alone 
beneath  the  stars,  with  no  requiem  save  the  night 
winds,  and  with  no  loving  hands  to  deck  my  humble 
tomb,  than  with  the  fame  of  earth's  martial  heroes 
to  have  my  ashes  followed  by  such  a  funeral  cortege 
as  went  after  Leon  Gambetta  to  the  wind-swept  cem- 
etery of  Nice,  or  to  be  laid  to  rest  in  Westminster 
Abbey  among  England's  illustrious  dead." 

^  ^  ^i  >;<  >l<  >;< 

The  father  was  the  first  member  of  the  family  to 
pass  away.  Soon  after  his  death  the  afflicted  daugh- 
ter began  to  improve,  and  finally  she  recovered,  and 
now  lives  with  the  widow  at  the  old  homestead.  His 
eldest  child,  Emma,  was  married  by  Bishop  Marvin, 
June  loth,  1875,  to  Rev.  W.  H.  Pegram,  who  has 
been  a  member  of  Trinity  College  Faculty  from  1873 
to  the  present  time.  To  them  have  been  born  five 
children:  George  Braxton,  Annie  McKinney,  Irene 
Craven,  John  Edward,  and  William  Howell.  The 
first  graduated  at  Trinity  in  '95,  the  second  in  '96. 
Dr.  James  L.  Craven,  the  eldest  son,  was  married 
June  loth,  1875,  to  Miss  Nannie  Bulla.  He  died 
November  12th,  1885.  The  widow  and  five  children 
sur\4ve.  The  children  are  Harvey  Barnard,  Earl 
Bulla,  James  Braxton,  Bruce,  and  George  Bulla. 
The  oldest,  Harvey,  graduated  in  the  class  of  '96 
with  his  cousin.  Miss  Annie  Pegram.  Dr.  Will  Cra- 
ven graduated  in  the  school  of  medicine  of  the  Uni- 


LiFK  OF  Braxton  Cravkn.      125 

versity  of  Baltimore,  and  a  few  months  later,  while 
practicing  his  profession  in  Philadelphia,  contracted 
pneumonia,  and  died  February  3d,  1895. 

A  suitable  headstone  erected  by  the  widow  marks 
the  resting  place  of  her  husband,  and  upon  it  is  this 
inscription:  "Braxton  Craven,  D.  D  ,  Lly.  D.  Born 
August  26th,  1822.     Died  November  7th,  1882." 

i^:  >^  ■^  '^  ^  "^ 

Nathan  Cox,  after  a  number  of  years,  was  rein- 
stated by  the  Friends.  Returning  from  a  quarterly 
meeting  one  Sunday,  and  while  descending  a  hill 
near  Franklinsville,  the  harness  of  his  horse  broke, 
and  he  was  thrown  from  his  buggy  and  killed.  His 
widow  remarried,  and  lived  to  a  very  old  age. 


126      LiFK  OF  Braxton  Craven. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

It  has  been  the  aim  of  the  writer  to  refrain  as  far 
as  possible  from  attempting  an}^  estimate  of  the  char- 
acter or  intellectuality  of  his  subject,  and  to  allow  the 
facts  of  Dr.  Craven's  life  and  the  products  of  his  own 
pen  to  speak  for  themselves.  Enough  of  the  man  is 
herein  exhibited  to  form  a  fairl}"  correct  estimate  of 
him.  Still,  something  more  needs  to  be  said.  The 
reader  must  bear  in  mind  that  Dr.  Craven  left  behind 
him  in  writing  comparatively  little  of  his  work,  either 
as  a  teacher  or  preacher,  and  of  that  little  most  of  it 
(judging  from  the  handwriting  and  dates  upon  some  of 
the  manuscripts)  was  written  prior  to  i860.  In  the 
last  decade  of  his  life  he  wrote  scarcely  anything, 
and  it  is  a  reasonable  supposition  that  his  best  efforts 
in  the  pulpit  and  in  the  class-room  were  never  com- 
mitted to  writing. 

He  was  certainly  a  remarkable  man  from  any  point 
of  view.  To  begin  with  he  had  an  extraordinary 
physical  constitution,  and  his  early  discipline  upon 
the  farm  hardened  and  solidified  it.  He  had  large 
limbs,  large  body,  and  large  head.  His  health,  with 
the  exception  of  the  last  j^ear  of  his  life,  was  perfect. 
So  far  as  his  family  know,  he  never  missed  a  meal  in 
his  life.  He  used  to  say  to  his  classes  that  he  went 
to  sleep  "perpendicularly — that  is,  right  straight 
oif,"  that  he  never  had  a  headache  in  his  life,  and 
never  knew  what  it  was  to  dream. 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.      127 

In  scholarship  he  was  solid  and  round,  as  distin- 
guished from  specialists  of  more  modern  times.  He 
did  not  attempt  all  things,  but  in  knowledge  of  the 
classics,  the  fundamental  principles  of  the  sciences, 
and  the  standard  works  of  history  and  literature,  he 
was  an  exceptional  master.  It  is  difficult  to  form 
any  idea  from  his  manuscripts  which  branch  of 
knowledge  he  was  most  familiar  with.  Prof.  Gan- 
nawa}^  who  has  seen  him  in  every  role  as  a  teacher, 
says  that  he  had  no  specialty,  but  seemed  to  be  an 
adept  in  every  department  of  college  work.  Prof. 
Doub  characterized  him  as  "a  man  of  enc3^clopsedic 
knowledge. ' '  The  important  fact,  however,  in  con- 
nection with  his  scholarship,  was  not  the  breadth  of 
his  knowledge,  great  as  that  was,  but  it  was  the 
beauty,  harmon}-  and  utilit}'  which  he  saw  in  all  the 
fields  of  learning.  Judging  from  the  quotations 
from  his  pen,  contained  in  this  book,  it  would  be 
difficult  to  find  a  scholar  anywhere  who  saw  more 
rythm  in  science,  literature  and  art,  or  interpreted 
their  voices  and  messages  with  a  more  read}'  appre- 
ciation. Dr.  Craven,  in  no  sense,  belonged  to  that 
class  of  scholars  who  are  mere  reference  books,  or 
mirrors,  reflecting  the  ideas  of  others,  but  he  pos- 
sessed a  highly  constructive  intellect,  and  thought 
out  his  own  conclusions.  The  passages  quoted  in 
this  book  indicate  a  lively  imagination.  Indeed, 
there  was  much  of  the  poetic  in  his  soul.  He  loved 
nature  and  the  great  masterpieces  of  literature.     He 


128      LiFK  OF  Braxton  Craven. 

tasted  at  every  classic  fount,  and  meditated  in  all  the 
sacred  groves.  In  his  mind's  eye  the  history  of  the 
universe,  from  the  first  orb  that  rolled  from  the 
hand  of  the  Creator  down  to  the  latest  act  of  Con- 
gress, passed  before  him  like  a  huge  panorama.  He 
made  himself  contemporary^  with  Moses,  Socrates, 
Caesar,  Luther  and  Napoleon.  He  lived  and  thought 
in  a  higher  altitude  than  ordinary  mortals,  and  no 
wonder  he  was  not  appreciated  nor  understood.  Such 
a  man,  like  a  great  mountain,  must  be  viewed  ^om 
some  distance  before  one  can  realize  the  magni- 
tude and  grandeur  of  the  figure.  Indeed,  there  is 
much  in  the  character  of  Dr.  Craven  that  reminds 
one  of  the  masters  of  the  ancient  academy.  Although 
he  was  rather  grave  and  serious  in  disposition,  he 
had  a  fine  vein  of  humor,  which  often  displayed  itself 
both  in  the  class-room  and  in  the  pulpit.  The  writer 
is  inclined  to  believe  that  he  could  have  written  a 
roaring  comedy. 

His  character  was  no  less  rounded  than  his  intel- 
lectual powers.  In  his  personal  habits  he  was  ex- 
ceptionally free  from  the  vices  and  follies  common  to 
the  young  men  of  his  day.  Having  a  deep  religious 
faith,  and  high  conceptions  of  life,  he  grew  into  a 
noble  type  of  manhood.  He  loved  all  that  was  pure 
and  good  in  the  world,  and  abhored  the  vile  and  vul- 
gar. He  was  a  man  who  could  never  laugh  over  any 
kind  of  vice.  He  never  told  a  smutty  joke,  nor  lis- 
tened to  one  with  any  patience.     He  knew  notliing 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  129 

of  scheming,  artifice,  or  the  tricks  of  trade,  and  was 
never  known  to  be  guilty  of  any  sort  of  littleness. 
He  relied  upon  open  dealing  and  solid  worth  to  take 
him  through  life.  In  his  nature  there  was  no  asper- 
ity, and  though  opposed  by  many  foes,  he  pursued 
none,  but  left  them  to  the  fate  of  their  own  snares. 

Many  people  have  expressed  the  wonder  why  a 
man  of  such  powerful  intellect  should  not  have  sought 
a  larger  theater  upon  which  to  act.  '  'What  a  preacher 
he  would  have  made,"  they  say,  "in  a  New  York 
pulpit.  What  a  superb  pleader  at  the  bar;  or  in  the 
halls  of  Congress,  Who  could  have  stood  before 
him?" 

Several  reasons  should  suggest  themselves  in  an- 
swer to  such  queries.  Dr.  Craven  answers  them 
himself  in  his  advice  to  the  graduates.  He  says, 
* '  No  man  should  ever  feel  that  he  has  two  chances 
in  life:  he  should  select  one  mission  and  with  it  live 
or  die.  Be  emphatically  men  of  one  work  ;  let  it  be 
large  enough  for  any  talent,  or  lasting  enough  for 
any  age,  and  then  depend  upon  it  for  fortune  and 
fame. ' '  Dr.  Craven  had  chosen  as  his  life-work  the 
profession  of  teacher,  and  he  never  had  but  one  am- 
bition, and  that  was  "to  make  men."  In  his  life 
he  received  tempting  offers  to  connect  himself  with 
other  institutions,  but  he  never,  for  a  moment, 
thought  of  abandoning  the  college  which  he  had 
founded  and  hoped  to  see  endowed.  His  children, 
with  their  families,  and  many  of  his  friends,  were 


130  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

more  or  less  dependent  on  the  success  of  the  institu- 
tion. It  is  not  probable  that  an}^  pecuniar}'  conside- 
ration could  have  induced  him  to  leave  Trinit}'  Col- 
lege. Being  a  pioneer  in  intellectual  development 
in  North  Carolina,  he  lived  and  labored  at  a  time 
when  educators  received  little  recognition  or  reward. 
Were  he  living  to-daj'  he  would  be  encumbered  with 
help.  It  is  of  little  consequence  to  us  to  ask  what 
he  might  have  done  in  broader  fields.  Such  a  quCvStion 
is  like  asking  what  he  could  accomplish  had  he  waited 
to  be  born  in  the  20th  century.  Suffice  it  that  in  the 
sphere  and  environment  in  which  fate  had  placed 
him,  he  acted  well  his  part.  He  lifted  himself  from 
the  humblest  and  most  adverse  surroundings,  and 
took  rank  with  the  State's  mightiest  men.  From 
his  boyhood  till  his  death,  he  walked  and  communed 
with  God,  and  by  a  life  of  self-sacrifice  and  consecra- 
ted service  to  humanity,  he  blessed  the  lives  of  all 
who  came  within  his  touch.  Indeed,  the  influences 
which  he  set  to  work  for  good  can  never  be  measured 
until  the  end  of  time.  In  the  nobleness  and  heroism 
of  such  a  life,  what  a  rich  legacy  is  left  to  coming 
generations:  what  a  fountain  of  inspiration  is  afforded 
for  all  poor  young  men:  and  what  a  contrast  is  seen 
in  such  a  life,  as  compared  to  that  of  the  dema- 
gogue, whose  ambition  is  to  follow  the  multitude, 
pander  to  their  prejudices  and  passions,  catch  their 
admiring  eye,  hear  their  shouts  and  hallowing,  and 
see  them  trooping  at  his  heels — all  to  the  end  that 


Life  of  Braxton  Craven.  131 

he  may  get  an  office  and  live  upon  the  sweat  of  their 
faces ! 

And,  perhaps  after  all,  Dr.  Craven  had  httle  of 
that  ambition  which  seeks  self-aggrandizement,  or 
glories  in  fine  palaces,  but  he  was,  throughout  Ufe, 
inspired  by  that  sentiment  so  beautifully  expressed 
by  Jennie  Deans,  in  addressing  Queen  Caroline  in 
behalf  her  condemned  sister:  "Ah,  my  leddy,  when 
we  cume  to  die,  it  will  not  be  what  we  have  dune  for 
oursells,  but  w^hat  we  have  dune  for  ithers  that  we 
shall  think  on  maist  plaisantly . ' ' 

Fourteen  summers'  suns  have  baked  the  red  clay 
above  his  bones;  fourteen  winters'  blasts  have  sung 
their  requiem  in  the  neighboring  pines.  The  beams 
of  the  sun  here  find  no  lofty  shaft  to  kiss  good  morn- 
ing or  linger  about  as  they  die  away  in  the  west:  but 
the  name  of  Craven  is  written  upon  the  hearts  and  in 
the  lives  of  multitudes  of  people  where  no  summer's 
suns  nor  winter's  blasts  can  ever  efface  it. 

After  this  lapse  of  time  an  humble  beneficiary, 
lightly  treading,  approaches  the  bleak  and  secluded 
spot,  and,  with  still  bleeding  heart,  lays  this  wreath 
upon  his  grave. 


THE   END. 


PART  SECOND. 


PART  SECOND. 


CHAPTER  I. 


EXTRACTS  FROM    HIS  LECTURES. 


THE  BEST  METHOD  OF  COMMUNICATING  KNOWLEDGE. 

The  green  oasis,  the  valley  of  the  Nile,  and  other 
great  rivers,  mark  no  less  clearly  the  fertilizing  in- 
fluence of  water,  than  polar  lands  and  the  sterile 
wastes  of  the  desert  proclaim  either  the  want  or  the 
destructive  action  of  vitality;  and  so  in  every  coun- 
tr}^  the  results  of  the  teacher  can  be  clearl}^  traced  in 
the  intelligence,  morality  and  public  spirit  of  the 
people;  thus,  too,  may  be  traced  the  effects  of  theory, 
the  true  and  good,  bringing  forth  a  hundred  fold  of 
happiness,  and  the  evil  exhibiting  naught  but  injury 

as  a  bad  legacy  to  succeeding  generations. 

^  ■^  i^  ^  ■^  ^ 

One  of  the  most  common  and  mischievous  theories 
of  mind  upon  which  practical  teaching  is  founded,  is 
that  there  are  natural  differences  of  intellectual  abil- 
ity independent  and  prior  to  all  educational  influences, 
that  some  can,  with  great  facility,  comprehend,  ac- 
quire and  retain,  either  the  elements  of  learning  or 
the  details  of  business;  that  some  are  born  to  be 


136  Life  of  Braxton  Cravex. 

statesmen,  generals,  poets,  and  men  of  distinction, 
whilst  others,  b}*  reason  of  the  small  amount  of  in- 
tellect God  has  given  them,  are  predestined  to  insig- 
nificance. Though  this  is  not  the  place  to  refute 
this  popular  error,  we  may  be  allowed  to  say  that  the 
doctrine  is  false  metaphj^sicall}^  impious  theologi- 
calh%  and  exceedingl}^  pernicious  in  practical  life. 
'^  -''  These  differences  are  the  result  of  man's 
conduct  and  circumstances,  hence  not  being  a  fixed 
creation  of  omnipotence,  they  are  subject  to  human 
control:  their  disadvantages  may  be  overcome  by 
industry,  and  the  recuperative  power  of  intellect  maj^ 
wing  a  loftier  and  steadier  flight  from  having  strug- 
gled with  earl}^  difficulties.  ^  ^^  Many  an  embr3'o 
giant  is  consigned  to  degradation,  the  hopes  of  a 
father  and  the  pride  of  a  mother  are  blasted,  b}'  a 
useless  and  false  theory. 

^  ^  ^  ^  ^  :i: 

Referring  to  the  necessity  of  awakening  the  intel- 
lectual faculties  and  also  the  affections  of  men,  he 
says : 

' '  Toward  these  results  every  proper  teacher  will 
move  from  the  commencement  of  the  alphabet, 
through  all  studies,  exercises  and  schools,  looking 
more  closel}^  to  the  developments  of  the  mind  and 
heart  than  to  the  number  of  pages  accomplished  or 
aptness  in  recitation.  The  e^ed  of  information,  in- 
struction and  study  is  the  chief  thing  to  be  consid- 
ered, and  without  direct  attention  to  this,  all  methods 


Extracts  from  his  Lectures.  137 

of  communicating  knowledge  will  be  hazardous  to 
the  recipient.  Ever}^  sensible  man  feels  both  indig- 
nation and  disappointment  when  his  son  returns  from 
the  common  school,  the  academy,  or  the  college  with 
folios  of  grammar,  mathematics  and  languages,  and 
at  the  same  time  exhibits  a  wild,  untutored  mind, 
pernicious  sentiments,  and  vicious  inclinations,  suita- 
ble for  nothing  but  pompous  arrogance,  boisterous 
merriment  and  ruinous  extravagance ;  or  when  the 
3^oung  lady  returns,  advanced  with  the  elegances  of 
literature,  embroidery  and  music,  but  marred  with 
intolerable  affectation,  whimsical  sentimentalism 
and  morbid  ill  humor.  Such  youths  of  either  sex 
are  not  educated,  they  have  not  experienced  the  best 
method  of  communicating  knowledge,  and  no  great 
name  of  teacher,  school  or  college  can  atone  for  the 
fault,  or  repair  the  melancholy  injurj^  thus  inflicted 
upon  the  immortal  spirit. 

The  only  source  of  direct  and  real  profit  to  the 
student  is  his  own  personal  exertion,  hence  he  is 
the  best  teacher  in  any  given  case  who  arouses  the  / 
student  to  energetic  action,  directs  his  efforts  in  the  !. 
right  w^ay  to  consistent,  worthy  and  noble  ends; 
causes  him  to  form  manly,  tasteful  and  proper  habits, 
and  creates  within  him  a  thirst  for  knowledge  and 
personal  excellence  that  will  bear  him  firmly  through 
all  the  allurements  of  dissipation,  the  dazzling  splen- 
dor of  prosperity  or  the  deep,  dark  gloom  of  adver- 
sity. He  knows  how  to  teach  who  reads  the  soul's 
10 


138      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

character  and  capabilities;  marks  the  high  goal  it 
may  attain,  kindles  its  own  inherent  ambition,  makes 
it  shun  immoralit}^  and  dishonor  as  loathsome  things, 
and  teaches  it  to  labor,  dare  and  do,  reh^ing  upon  jus- 
tice, self  and  God.  Such  teachers  (and  North  Caro- 
lina has  a  noble  share)  are  the  benefactors  of  man- 
kind ;  their  worthy  deeds  deserve  richer  laurels  than 

ever  graced  lauded  statesman  or  conquering  general. 

>>  ^  >i<  ^<  'i^  ^ 

If  the  teacher  cannot  clothe  with  fascination  the 
S3^stematic  columns  of  the  spelling  book,  the  maxims 
and  stories  of  the  Reader,  the  principles  and  problems 
of  Arithmetic,  the  definitions  and  exercises  of  Gram- 
mar, and  all  other  subjects  he  proposes  to  teach,  he 
has  embarked  in  the  wrong  profession,  and  should 
at  once  and  forever  abandon  that  for  which  he  is  not 
qualified. 

From  the  considerations  presented,  it  will  be  appa- 
rent that  we  do  not  think  an}^  system  will  be  a  good 
one  in  the  hands  of  an  improper  man;  that  teaching 
is  far  from  being  similar  to  the  mechanic  arts,  which 
simply  require  conformit}'  to  rules,  lines  and  propor- 
tions, without  any  reference  whatever  to  the  charac- 
ter or  disposition  of  the  operator;  that  teaching 
stands  alone  among  professions  unlike  all  others, 
and  requiring  for  its  efiicient  accomplishment  a  nice 
combination  of  character,  inclination  and  acquire- 
ment. As  a  general  rule,  whatsoever  a  man  has 
ability,  habit  and  inclination  to  perform  in  a  superior 


Extracts  from  his  Lectures.  139 

manner,  he  delights  to  do,  and  finds  a  kind  of  men- 
tal compulsion  laid  upon  him  to  discharge  that  work; 
thus  the  proper  teacher  feels  a  necessity  to  impart 
knowledge,  he  is  uneas}^  and  restless  in  other  em- 
ployments, thinks  and  talks  only  of  the  studies  and 
scenes  of  the  school-room,  finds  more  pleasure  in 
arithmetic  than  in  the  splendid  romances  of  Bulwer 
or  Scott,  and  prefers  the  exercises  of  examination  to 
all  the  theatricals  of  Mrs.  Siddons,  or  the  inimitable 
Garrick. 

In  turning  our  attention  to  the  actual  routine  of 
imparting  knowledge,  it  may  be  proper  to  remark, 
that  scarcely  any  subject  can  be  thoroughly  and 
completely  learned  alone  or  at  any  one  period  in  life. 
The  alphabet,  the  first  link  in  learning's  endless 
chain,  cannot  be  comprehended  in  all  its  significance 
b}^  a  mere  child;  the  forms  and  names  of  the  letters 
maj^  be  learned,  the  sound  given  to  certain  combina- 
tions, and  the  regulation  of  the  voice  in  connecting 
these  sounds  together;  but  what  child  can  under- 
stand the  laws  of  orthoepy  in  their  nature,  applica- 
tions and  musical  arrangement  ?  These  depend  upon 
the  organic  structure  of  vocal  organs,  the  inevitable 
difference  of  vowel,  sub-vowel  and  aspirate,  the  dis- 
tinction of  monophthong,  diphthong  and  triphthong, 
and  thence  far  nicer  distinctions,  embracing  pitch, 
force,  time,  melody,  sharps  and  flats.  These  things, 
implying  some  knowledge  of  anatomy,  physiolog}', 
symbols  and  music,  must  be  understood  before  a  clear 


140  Life  of  Braxton  Cravkn. 

knowledge  can  be  gained  of  the  number  of  letters 
requisite,  why  some  represent  two  or  more  sounds, 
wh}^  some  are  silent,  the  difference  between  the  name 
of  the  letter  and  the  sound  it  represents,  wh}'  v  may 
not  precede  b  before  a  vowel  as  easily  as  b  can  pre- 
cede r,  and  numerous  other  interesting  considerations 
upon  the  same  subject.  Hence  will  be  seen,  that 
even  the  English  alphabet,  completely  understood, 
is  a  beautiful  field  of  thought,  abounding  in  the  most 
acute  logical  distinctions,  the  finest  discriminations 
of  taste  and  elegance,  and  by  no  means  inferior  in 
genuine  excellence  to  the  most  finished  of  modern 
accomplishments;  but  can  neither  be  taught  alone  in 
a  very  short  time,  nor  to  a  ver}'  young  person.  If 
it  should  be  considered  that  a  subject  of  so  little  ele- 
gant reputation  is  unworthy  the  attention  of  mature 
thought,  that  its  philosophy  and  distinctions  are 
fruitless  niceties  and  empt}^  speculation,  it  ma}"  be 
answered  that  they  are  as  substantial  and  real,  as 
improving  in  their  tendency,  and  as  practical  in  their 
application,  as  the  laws  and  maxims  of  any  science 
in  the  whole  range  of  mental  cultivation.  Now  the 
best  method  of  communicating  knowledge  on  this 
subject  will  manifestly  be  that  which,  disregarding 
all  extraneous  and  temporary  excitements,  fixes 
attention  by  the  peculiar  influences  of  the  subject 
itself,  accomplishes  each  particular  in  a  mode  and 
time  that  will  predispose  to  further  progress,  and 
properly  prepare  the  mind  for  its  reception.     Every- 


Extracts  from  his  Lectures.  141 

thing  learned  should  have  reference  to  the  whole 
subject,  and  every  hour's  study  may  and  should 
increase  a  desire  for  further  knowledge.  Orthoepy 
and  orthograph3^  like  all  other  sciences,  are  com- 
posed of  parts.  These  have  a  relation  to  each  other  as 
well  as  to  the  progressive  development  of  mind ;  and 
when  studied  in  the  right  order  and  under  proper 
influences,  there  will  always  be  ease,  clearness,  inter- 
est and  profit.  Let  the  teacher  present  the  alphabet 
in  name,  form,  sound,  or  combination;  let  each  point 
be  made  perfectly  clear;  let  the  utilit}^  beauty  and 
influence  of  each  be  carefully  explained,  and  a  youth- 
ful ardor  will  be  aroused  that  will  conquer  all  indif- 
ference to  study,  or  the  attractions  of  sport. 

>Jj  >-i  >ii  >J<  >;<  ^ 

'  'Want  of  interest  in  primary  learning,  ignorance  of  i 
its  utility  and  vast  import,  and  consequent  deficiency 
in  language,  the  great  instrument  of  thought,  are 
at  this  hour,  perhaps,  the  greatest  impediment  to 
profound  scholarship  and  literary  distinction.  There 
are  graduates  in  the  land  who  boast  proficiency  in 
the  language  of  Cicero,  and  affect  Parisian  purity  in 
French,  who  neither  understand  the  nature  nor  the 
philosophy  of  the  English  alphabet.  That  method 
of  instruction  is  wrong  in  any  land  that  permits  a 
neglect  of  the  maternal  tongue.  -^  ^  Endow  the 
teacher  with  the  knowledge  and  unction  of  his  pro- 
fession, then  with  chalk  and  blackboard  he  shall 
bring  forth  flashes  of  light,  even  from  the  alphabet, 


142      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

that  will  hold,  spell-bound  the  most  listless  and  inat- 
tentive, wooing  them  gently  unaware  and  upward  to 
the  full  stature  of  intellectual  maturit3^ 

;;<  -^  :^1;  i;i  ;•;  ^ 

"The  real  objects  of  Geography  and  Natural  Sci- 
ence collected  together,  would  be  sufficiently  inter- 
esting to  cause  the  play-ground  to  be  neglected,  the 
ball-room  to  be  emptied,  cards  to  be  forsaken,  and 
even  vice  to  be  abandoned.  Now  the  books  are  the 
natural  world  in  miniature,  and  supply  the  place  of 
universal  travel,  and  the  teacher  must  so  explain  the 
picture  as  to  invest  it  with  real  life.  Good  action  on 
the  stage  causes  the  audience  to  forget  that  it  is  all 
fiction,  and  good  teaching  makes  the  learner  forget 
that  the  object  contemplated  is  mere  paper  and  ink. 

>f:  >!<  >|<  Jji  ;]<  ^ 

"In  the  same  mode  the  Ph3^sical  Sciences  unfold 
their  vast  accumulations  of  facts,  all  bound  together 
b}^  long  chains  of  sequence,  cause  and  effect,  and 
lead  the  mind  by  the  sweetest  attractions  through 
illimitable  fields  of  richness,  from  Nature  up  to 
Nature's  God.  Then,  standing  upon  the  sum- 
mit of  these  great  mountains  of  thought,  with  fields 
of  loveliness  all  smiling  between,  the  high-born  soul, 
conscious  of  its  strength,  dignit}^  and  immortality, 
scorns  the  insignificant  and  vile  among  mortal  things, 
lives  in  a  higher,  nobler  element,  drinks  from  purer 
fountains,  lives  upon  higher  hopes,  and  achieves  a 
more  glorious  destiny." 


Extracts  from  his  Lkctures.  143 


EXTRACTS  FROM  HIS  LECTURES  ON  RHETORIC  AND  THE 

FINE  ARTS. 

"Aesthetic  force  supports  morals,  creates  a  natural 
taste  for  the  pure  and  good,  prevents  low  and  de- 
praved inclinations;  avoids  vulgarity  in  speech, 
thought,  and  act;  supports  the  proprieties,  the  great 
guardians  of  morals.  A  man  whose  taste  is  de- 
praved, and  who  has  small  love  for  the  beautiful, 
will  find  it  difficult  to  be  a  gentleman  or  a  Christtian. 

' '  It  has  impulsive  power.  It  warms  the  soul  into 
life  and  activity;  it  excites  the  soul  by  the  health- 
iest natural  force. 

'  *  It  has  sustaining  power.  Every  song  of  the  bird, 
every  blooming  rose  and  every  sunset  sk}^  holds  the 
soul  up  to  higher  attainments.  Every  good  thing 
can  speak  to  his  nature  and  help  him. 

' '  The  essential  importance  of  rhetoric  is  threefold. 

"  I .  Its  personal  importance  is  of  the  highest  rank,   j 
since,  in  spite  of  all  circumstances,  in  all  conditions 
and  at  all  ages,  our  happiness  strictly  depends  upon    ] 
correct  feeling. 

"2.  It  is  socially  important,  because,  by  inducing 
correct  thought  and  feeling,  it  would  drive  away  the 
jars  and  discords  of  communities  and  drop  the  gen- 
tle dews  of  peaceful  serenit}^  upon  all  the  hearth- 
stones of  the  land. 

"3.  It  is  of  public  importance,  because,  by  the  same 


144  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

means,  crimes  and  wrongs  would  come  to  an  end  and 
the  wolf  and  the  lamb  would  roam  together  o'er  the 
plain. ' ' 

><:  :^  ^  jj:  >ic  >ii 

' '  The  aesthetic  influence  of  the  world  is  its  noblest 
expression:  it  is  God  speaking  with  ten  thousand 
tongues  to  the  noblest  powers  of  man.  Sensual 
utility  is  "of  the  earth,  earth}^"  but  around  every 
particle  of  creation  is  spread  a  higher  glory.  The 
flowers  of  the  plain,  the  oaks  of  the  forest,  the  mur- 
muring rivulet,  the  might}^  river,  the  plain,  the 
mountain,  the  lake,  the  ocean,  the  earth,  and  the 
stars  all  speak  in  God -like  eloquence  to  the  soul  of 
man." 

H<  ^  ^  if!  *  ^  :it 

*  'The  more  highh^  the  mind  and  heart  are  cultivated, 
the  more  powerful  impressions  are.  The  hydra  feels 
a  wound  less  than  a  horse;  the  horse  less  than  a 
man.  None  but  the  most  elevated  are  capable  of 
the  greatest  emotions;  the  stupid  may  rage  like  a 
brute,  but  the  cultured  onlj^  are  capable  of  the  high- 
est passions  of  any  kind. ' ' 

He  *  ;iJ  :S:  He  *  * 

"Much  of  the  restlessness,  roaming,  and  evil  of 
young  people  is  due  to  the  fact  that  they  have  no 
resources  of  amusement  in  themselves,  and  no  ma- 
terial upon  which  they  can  employ  their  hearts. ' ' 

ijC  jfc  Jjl  ^c  ^  J}c 

"The  character  of  this  age  is  destructive  to  poetic 
talent;  its  effort  is  for  wealth,  pomp  and  sensual 


Extracts  FROM  his  Lectures.  145 

pleasure;  its  philosoph}^  is  utility  and  application 
with  the  perpetual  motto,  '' cui  bono.''  It  has  few 
aspirations  to  explore  the  vast  empires  of  the  beauti- 
ful, the  good  and  the  true. 

"The  spirit  of  this  age  calls  for  a  poet.  The  cry 
has  rolled  from  Greenland  to  the  Southern  Cape, 
over  every  land  and  sea,  ' '  who  will  sing  the  anthem 
of  the  19th  century?"  The  mighty  exploits  of  sci- 
ence have  never  been  told  in  immortal  verse;  battles 
far  greater  than  iVngora,  Marathon  or  Platea,  are 
passing  away  to  oblivion  without  a  bard  to  perpetu- 
ate their  remembrance.  The  great  spirit  of  this 
century,  with  its  dim  prophesies  of  future  greatness, 
its  unutterable  impulses,  and  its  unparalleled  achieve- 
ments, has  found  none  to  give  it  a  name,  or  fathom 
the  depth  of  its  wisdom. ' ' 


FROM  LECrURE  ON  RHETORIC. 

*  'As  samples  of  the  historical  novel,  we  have  Homer, 
whose  power  consists  in  his  powerful  description, 
and  the  correct  philosophy  of  his  events.  We  have 
Scott,  distinguished  for  his  powerful  development  of 
character  and  his  vivid  descriptions  of  nature;  his 
philosophy  is  meager  and  unimportant.  We  have 
Cooper,  unsurpassed  in  the  development  of  Indian 
and  sailor  character,  and  in  the  philosophj'  of  his 
events;  his  descriptive  power  is  rather  inferior. 
"As  samples  of  the   sentimental  novel,  we  have 


146  Life  of  Braxton  Cravkn. 

Virgil,  vivid  and  accurate  in  description,  natural  in 
sentiment,  but  feeble  in  philosophy  of  events.  We 
have  Dante,  powerful  in  his  investigation  of  the 
whole  human  character,  correct  in  his  philosophy  of 
induction,  and  terrible  in  his  delineations.  We  have 
Milton,  glowing  in  description,  powerful  in  the  in- 
vention of  probable  character,  and  philosophic  in 
stating  the  actions  and  tendency  of  such  character. ' ' 
In  illustrating  the  different  classes  of  literature, 
there  are  references  to  Rousseau,  Moliere,  Voltaire, 
Scott, Dickens,  Shakespeare,  Swift, Cervantes,  Irving, 
Cooper,  Bulwer,  Racine,  Corneille,  and  many  writers 
of  Greece  and  Rome. 


FROM  LECTURE  ON  SCULPTURE. 

' '  From  the  plains  of  the  Ganges  and  the  desert  of 
Gobi,  from  the  grass-grown  mounds  of  Ninevah  and 
the  submerged  plains  of  Babylon,  come  voices  from 
the  aged  tongue  of  Sculpture  that  speak  eloquently 
of  the  olden  times.  Petra  hewn  from  the  solid  rock, 
Palmyra  on  the  lone  sandy  waste,  Egypt  with  its 
pyramids,  and  Jerusalem,  the  chosen  city  of  God,  all 
speak  in  the  language  of  Sculpture,  and  breathe  a 
remnant  of  primeval  life.  The  obelisk  of  Eg3^pt  still 
shows  the  school-boy  lessons  of  Moses,  and  the  broken 
columns  of  Diana's  Temple,  at  Ephesus,  continue  to 
breathe  the  spirit  that  opposed  St.  Paul." 


Extracts  from  his  Lectures.  147 

"America,  especially,  needs  sculptors  of  indige-  ] 
nous  growth,  not  men  with  the  spirit  and  even  the 
genius  of  Italy,  but  men  who  have  been  nurtured  by 
our  own  natural,  social  and  political  life — men  who 
understand  our  traditions,  our  history,  and  our  aspi- 
rations. Then  would  our  noblest  conceptions  and 
the  finest  outflowings  of  our  life  be  impersonated  in 
the  rock,  and  our  nationality  would  be  recorded  on 
tables  that  never  decay. 

•' '  This  department  of  art  would  have  a  powerful 
tendenc}^  to  check  and  change  the  rapidly  increasing 
spirit  of  sensuality  and  love  of  wealth.  The  noble 
free  spirit  of  America  already  indicates  a  premature 
decline  and  an  inglorious  end.  Few  are  disposed  to 
develop  their  powers,  discipline  their  nature,  and  be 
men;  we  are  a  nation  of  dwarfs,  a  generation  of 
blasted  nobility,  without  much  promise  of  a  brighter 
future. 

^  ^  *  ^  -x-  ^  * 

' '  Every  form  of  life  has  its  external  index,  the 
material  table  upon  which  is  written  its  character  in 
nature's  own  dialect.  Not  only  the  kinds  of  life  are 
manifested  b}^  the  differences  of  tree,  flower  and  shrub, 
animal  and  man,  but  the  character  of  each  may  be 
read  in  the  changing  leaf,  the  waning  flower,  and 
the  pale  countenance. 

* '  Every  animal  involuntarily  shows  its  passion, 
as  in  the  raised  hair  of  the  dog,  the  protruding  claws 
of  the  tiger,  and  the  firm-set  teeth  of  infuriated  man. 


148  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

*  *  Every  emotion  and  passion  of  man  has  an  ex- 
ternal expression,  a  visible  impress  upon  the  bod}* 
and  its  motions;  these  constitute  the  natural  language 
of  the  passions  so  well  understood  and  so  truthfully 
expressed  b}'  sculptors  and  painters. 

"This  expression  of  the  soul's  character  not  only 
shows  itself  in  the  lines  of  the  face,  the  proportions 
of  the  nose,  the  movement  of  the  lips,  and  the  move- 
ments of  the  body,  but  in  the  countenance,  that  inde- 
scribable illumination  of  face  that  shows  the  light 
and  shadows  of  the  invisible  indwelling  sun. 

' '  The  lines  of  power  about  mouth  and  chin  tell  of 
internal,  unslumbering  energy,  while  the  very  soul 
of  the  sensualist  is  printed  upon  his  lips.  See  the 
fathomless  depths  of  intellect  in  the  eye,  or  the  glare 
of  ruthless  passion,  or  the  cunning  of  heartless  chi- 
caner}^  or  the  sparkle  of  joyous  innocence,  or  the 
leer  of  foul  libertinism,  or  the  exaltation  of  inspired 
pathos. 

' '  The  most  conspicuous  and  permanent  effect  is  pro- 
duced by  secret  thoughts,  unexpressed  desires  and 
emotions — the  deep  fires  of  the  soul  that  smoulder 
under  the  confinement  of  the  will,  and  thus  burn 
their  own  smoke  into  the  firm  texture  of  the  body. ' ' 

•5<-  -X-  *  -H-  -X-  -X-  ^ 

"The  appreciation  and  enjoyment  of  the  highest 
and  most  refined  beauty,  require  accurate  and  pro- 
found culture.  Hence  the  rich  things  of  God's 
creation  are  unknown  to  the  untutored  multitude." 


Extracts  from  his  Lectures.  149 

In  his  lectures  on  Geology  are  many  fine  passages. 
He  easily  comprehended  the  vastness,  beauty  and 
utility  of  all  science.  As  illustrative  of  his  appre- 
ciation of  this  field  of  knowledge,  a  few  extracts 
are  given: 

"It  may  be  that  the  six  days  of  Genesis  mean 
vast  epochs,  in  which  God  made  all  that  this  uni- 
verse contains;  that  he  now  pauses  till  certain  devel- 
opments shall  have  been  accomplished,  and  that  yet 
again  his  mandate  will  go  forth;  new  orbs  and  sys- 
tems will  spring  into  being,  until  all  the  concave  of 
ether  will  shine  with  glittering  stars.  It  may  be 
that  in  cycles  to  come,  this  globe  may  be  inhabited 
by  a  new,  noble  and  kindred  race.  Then  may  they 
doubt  and  wonder,  when,  in  solid  hills,  they  find 
trees  and  animals,  when  in  digging  far  down  they 
find  the  lettered  blocks  of  our  Washington  monu- 
ment, the  paved  streets  of  New  York,  the  endless 
machinery  of  Birmingham  and  Shefiield,  the  vast 
collection  of  the  EngHsh  navy  or  the  curious  collec- 
tions in  the  Mediterranean. 

Geology  is  j^et  in  its  infancy,  and  yet  it  has  done 
more  to  clear  up  and  enlarge  the  conceptions  of 
Divine  truth  than  any  other  science.  It  upholds  the 
omnipotence,  wisdom,  benevolence  and  providence 
of  God  with  a  lucidness  of  demonstration  unequalled 
in  any  department  of  physical  inquiry.  It  proves 
the  most  precious  truths  by  unprejudiced  testimony 
from  each  of  nature's  great  kingdoms;  it  adds  a  new 


150     Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

continent  to  the  domain  of  intellect,  abounding  in 
all  that  can  enrich  the  mind.  This  noble  science,  in 
a  literary  sense,  takes  rank  with  the  ver}^  first;  its 
vocabulary  is  adapted  to  all  ages  and  nations;  its 
rhetoric  rushes  in  soul-fire  from  the  hearts  of  mil- 
lions living  and  dead,  and  its  anthem  of  praise  to 
God  is  noted  through  all  formations  upon  ancient 
beach  and  terrace.  Its  legends  are  written  upon 
rock  and  cavern,  bone  and  shell;  its  fortress  of  truth 
is  older  than  the  rocks  of  the  pyramids,  and  will  be 
unassailed  when  those  mighty  piles  shall  have  moul- 
dered to  dust.  Geolog}^  has  gone  back  to  the  time 
when  Eden  was,  and  though  six  thousand  years  re- 
mote from  life  and  light,  has  onh^  reached  the  first 
mark  upon  her  wand  of  time,  and  then  through 
times,  too  great  for  calculation,  mid  reptiles  and 
creatures  strange,  in  earthquakes  and  commotions 
vast,  she  heard  the  Mighty  God  pronounce  the  doom 
of  chaotic  rule,  raise  up  the  blue  dome  of  air,  and 
flash  the  first  beams  of  light  across  the  gloom  pro- 
found." 

^  -^  ^  ^  ^  ^ 

' '  As  the  sun  arose  over  those  pristine  hills,  the 
lark  welcomed  him  with  a  song,  and  rose  up  to  meet 
his  first  beams  in  mid-air;  then  began  the  cheerful 
but  monotonous  "bob-white"  of  the  quail;  the  vul- 
ture took  his  station  in  the  air  as  a  heaven- appointed 
scavenger;  the  albatross  and  pelican  soared  over  the 
deep  and  gazed  with  pleasure  upon  ocean  storms, 
and  at  night  the  owl  attempted  to  continue  the  music 


Extracts  from  his  Lectures.  151 

of  the  day,  and  though  not  written  in  the  records  of 
Geology,  tradition  affirms  that  his  owlship  ruined 
his  vocal  apparatus  in  his  effort. 

'  *  The  Miocene  period  is  marked  by  a  very  exact 
but  most  ludicrous  imitation  of  man:  the  Ape,  in  his 
many  varieties,  now  peopled  the  tropic  climate  that 
then  spread  from  pole  to  pole;  the  Dinotheriam, 
larger  than  the  mastodon  or  elephant,  with  two  huge 
tusks  and  a  snout,  inhabited  both  land  and  water, 
and  the  Rhinoceros  come  forth  as  a  proper  compan- 
ion and  associate.  Then,  too,  under  oaks  and  nut 
trees  and  along  the  streams,  Hogs  displayed  their 
greediness  and  grunted  themselves  to  sleep;  whilst 
in  jungles  the  Tiger's  terrific  roar  startled  creation's 
repose,  and  the  night  was  made  hideous  by  the 
screams  of  Panthers  and  feline  animals  of  every  kind. 
Then  the  great  Mastodon  died  in  Kentucky  to  be  the 
wonder  of  this  age;  the  Hippopotamus  assumed  the 
empire  of  rivers  and  shallow  seas,  and  the  Horse  came 
forth,  the  gentleman  of  beasts  and  the  pride  of  man. 

' '  The  Pliocene  period  is  marked  by  the  Elephant, 
with  his  docility  and  strength;  the  Ox  followed  as 
the  great  utilitarian  of  his  age;  next  bounded  the 
Deer  into  existence,  wild,  graceful  and  fleet;  then 
the  Dolphin  performed  odd  feats  in  the  sea;  the  Seal 
and  Walrus  sought  homes  in  the  coldest  places;  and 
the  Whale  was  crowned  monarch  of  the  ocean; 
whilst  the  hills  were  covered  with  poplars,  elms, 
willows,  chesnuts  and  sycamores." 


152  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

CHAPTER  II. 

ADDRESS  TO  THE  GRADUATES. 

You7ig  Gentlemen  of  the  Senior  Class  : 

I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  delivering  to  you  the 
official  diploma  of  this  institution.  You  are  now  to 
go  forth  as  graduated  men — men  whose  talent,  dis- 
cipline and  attainments  qualify  you  to  do  men's 
work,  bear  men's  burdens,  and  receive  men's  rewards. 

You  do  not  go  forth  to  make  a  vain  parade  of 
learning,  but  to  use  it  effectivel}^  in  the  real  interests 
of  life;  you  do  not  go  to  boast  of  whence  you  came, 
but  to  make  others  boast  of  the  substantial  good  you 
can  do;  you  do  not  go  to  seek  pleasant,  remunerative 
positions  by  displacing  other  men,  but  to  build  such 
positions  for  yourselves  that  all  men  would  like  to 
have  them.  Go  not  by  choice  where  money  and 
honors  are  easil}^  won — such  is  not  the  place  for  doing 
the  greatest  good,  nor  the  locality  for  the  best  and 
largest  growth  of  3^oung  manhood — but  select  fields 
that  are  large  and  capable  and  that  most  need  the 
tiller's  hand.  Be  the  architects  of  your  own  for- 
tunes, make  your  own  plans,  lay  the  foundations 
with  your  own  hands,  and  then,  by  the  help  of  God^ 
build  palaces  in  which  real  men  can  live.  Take  no 
temporary  or  secondary  employment,  for  these  seem- 
ing necessities  or  present  conveniences  are  the  ruin 
of  talent,  the  blight  of  great  capacity,  and  have  irre- 
trievably ruined  much  of  the  fine  talent  that  has  gone 


Address  to  the  Graduating  Class.      153 

out  well  polished  and  strong  from  college  halls;  but 
begin  life's  work,  and  a  w^ork  for  life,  with  the  love 
and  fire  and  hope  of  youth;  let  there  be  neither  mem- 
ory nor  scar  from  other  pursuits;  no  habits  formed 
nor  inclinations  developed,  but  such  as  belong  to  the 
great  mission.  No-4nan  should  ever  feel  that  he  has 
two  chances  in  life  ;  he  should  select  one  and  with  it 
live  or  die.  Be  emphatically  men  of  one  work,  let 
it  be  large  enough  for  any  talent,  and  lasting  enough 
for  any  age,  and  then  depend  upon  it  for  fortune  and 
fame.  This  is  the  only  foundation  for  eminent  suc- 
cess, and  the  onl}^  means  of  distinguished  usefulness. 
The  work  you  select,  and  the  mode  and  success  of 
performance,  may  have  much  to  do  in  arresting  the 
mad  proclivit}^  of  this  age  to  neglect  collegiate  edu- 
cation altogether.  With  a  depressing  and  widely 
extended  pecuniary  inability,  comes  a  fearful  apathy 
tow^ard  liberal  study  and  profound  culture.  The 
effective  desire  for  thorough  education  is  compara- 
tively less  than  it  was  thirty  years  ago.  The  educa- 
tional tendencies  in  full  force  when  the  w^ar  began, 
have  chiefly  sustained  the  colleges  till  the  present; 
but  these  tendencies  have  expended  themselves  by 
lapse  of  time,  and  the  new"  age,  like  all  others  in 
similar  circumstances,  has  neither  acquired  the  for- 
tune nor  the  higher  aspiration  necessary  to  seek  or 
sustain  high  literary  culture.  You  are  to  demon- 
strate the  utility  and  beauty  of  thorough  mental  dis- 
cipline, to  prove  that  the  State  and  the  church  have 
II 


154      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

need  of  larger  men  than  ever  grow  in  the  wilds  of 
ignorance,  and  to  prove  to  all  that  time  and  money 
spent  in  accomplishing  the  most  extensive  college 
curriculum,  are  ampl}^  repaid  by  a  large  increase  of 
the  noblest  manhood.  Be  such  men  in  all  relations 
of  life,  that  crude  presumption  may  be  effectually 
discredited;  that  chicaner}^  may  neither  have  excuse 
for  its  existence,  nor  success  for  its  reward,  and  that 
profound  scholarship  may  establish  its  utility  in  a 
new  republic,  b}^  conferring  blessings  upon  the  re- 
public that  no  other  condition  of  life  can  bestow. 

If  your  object  is  worth  the  cost  and  life  of  a  culti- 
vated man,  it  will  be  long  weary  years  before  you 
pluck  the  golden  fruit.  Be  not  impatient  and  never 
despair.  Many  great  things  are  ruined  by  haste,  by 
the  impatience  of  friends,  and  the  malicious  chidings 
of  foes;  by  hasty  observers  who  know  not  that  the 
ocean  has  an  ebb  as  well  as  a  flow,  and  by  prophesies 
that  are  intended  to  work  their  own  fulfilment.  To 
yield,  or  change,  or  hasten  to  premature  finish,  is  to 
ruin  good  work  and  waste  a  life.  Know  3'our  work 
and  know  it  well ;  then  do  it,  regardless  of  criticism 
and  without  too  much  advice.  Men  ma\"  be,  and 
often  are,  advised  to  death.  Wise  men  observe  all 
things,  and  learn  from  all  men,  but  work  by  the  light 
and  force  of  their  own  intelligence;  they  bridge  no 
gulfs  by  expedients,  but  build  the  solid  masonry  as 
they  go;  they  never  make  bounteous  to-day  by  heavy 
drafts  on  to-morrow;  and  they  always  press  direct 


Addrkss  to  the  Graduating  Class.      155 

upon  the  center  of  resistance.  Competition  is  sup- 
posed to  benefit  trade,  to  improve  all  business,  and 
to  be  the  steel  of  the  intellect;  but  competition,  as 
generally  understood,  and  in  the  modes  commonly 
practiced,  is  utterly  beneath  first-rate  ability,  and 
revoltingly  repugnant  to  a  true  man.  The  only  true 
race  is  against  time  itself  and  for  eternity.  To  sur- 
pass others,  to  be  the  observed  for  a  day,  to  be  in 
the  ascendancy,  however  small  the  ascent,  ma}'  be 
compensation  enough  for  mediocrity;  but  can  be 
neither  the  object  nor  reward  of  real  worth.  No  two 
heroic  men  can  or  will  work  alike,  or  for  the  same 
end,  and  all  comparisons  between  them  are  false  in 
application,  and  odious  to  the  men  themselves.  Do 
for  yourselves  a  good  work  and  of  the  greatest  possi- 
ble magnitude.  Sow  largely  and  reap  your  own 
harvests,  without  counting  any  sheaf  from  a  neigh- 
bor's field.  Avoid  all  ordinary  competition,  for  it 
leads  inevitably  to  deceits  in  work,  false  estimates, 
popular  plausibilities,  and  every  conceivable  mean- 
ness of  soul ;  it  encourages  the  tattler,  gives  employ- 
ment to  the  intermeddler,  offers  a  nucleus  for  exagge- 
rations and  intentional  misconstruction  ;  rouses  into 
fury  the  bitterest  and  blackest  envy,  and  breaks  the 
oldest  and  strongest  bonds  of  friendship.  Compete 
with  no  man,  but  do  work  that  all  must  admire. 

In  doing  this  work,  think  for  yourself  and  to  your- 
self, for  every  really  successful  man  in  history,  with- 
out a  single  exception,  was  a  man  who  had  strong 


156     Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

reliance  upon  himself.  Not  only  does  God  help 
those  who  help  themselves,  but  men  do  the  same, 
and  self-help  depends  largely  upon  self-thought, 
original  resource,  and  inflexible  resolution.  Give 
liberally,  recei\^eJrom  all,  and  lean  onh^  upon  your- 
self. ^ 


Sermons  and  Extracts.  157 

CHAPTER  III. 


SERMONS  AND    EXTRACTS    FROM 
SERMONS. 


"THE  GREAT  PROMISE." 

Acts  i,  4. 


' '  All  preaching  without  the  Holy  Ghost  is  a 
mocker}^,  an  insult  to  God.  The  splendid  eloquence 
of  Chatham  or  Clay,  would  be  abomination  in  the 
pulpit,  unless  another  ingredient  is  added.  God 
never  consecrated  the  pulpit  to  discuss  science,  parade 
philosoph}^,  revel  in  imagination  or  display  rhetori- 
cal finery,  but  rather  to  wield  the  plain  and  simple, 
but  ponderous  and  burning  words  of  the  Gospel. ' ' 


''THE  NURTURE  OF  THE  SOUL." 

Matt,  iv,  4. 

' '  *  What  shall  we  eat,  and  wherewithal  shall  we 
be  clothed,'  is  the  first  problem  of  the  age.  The 
French  revolution,  in  1790,  deified  famine,  dissipa- 
ted the  grand  old  ideas  of  social  joy  and  refined 
taste,  and  made  bread  the  watchword  for  all  peoples 
and  clans.  For  seventy  years  bread  has  been  the 
autocrat  of  human  ambition,  and  has  marshaled  all 


158      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

forces  and  energies  of  mind  and  body  to  coerce  every 
kingdom  of  nature  into  prolific  production.  The 
emphatic  thought  of  the  world  is  unquestionably 
concerned  chiefly  about  eating,  about  what  enters 
into  the  composition  of  breakfast,  dinner  and  supper, 
about  aliment  in  general — scripturall}'  summed  up 
in  the  word  bread.  And  this  is  not  confined  to  the 
rude,  uncultured  masses  ;  but  is  more  especially  dom- 
inant among  the  wealthy,  the  cultivated  and  influ- 
ential. Hence  the  science  of  Elementar}^  Produc- 
tion has  received  more  attention  and  more  enlarge- 
ment than  any  other;  in  the  last  half  century  chem- 
istr3'  has  advanced  from  the  baseless  speculations  of 
Alchemy  to  a  firm  position  among  things  positive 
and  calculable.  Wars  have  arisen  about  the  trans- 
portation of  corn,  and  tariffs  upon  tea;  men  have 
been  ennobled  and  immortalized  for  improvements 
in  the  furniture  of  the  kitchen,  and  great  statesmen 
have  summoned  their  mightiest  energies  upon  sugar 
hogsheads,  salt  sacks  and  pork  barrels.  Poetry  has 
left  the  old  haunts  of  the  muses,  sacred  and  profane, 
no  longer  lingering  in  the  shady  groves  and  along 
the  murmuring  streams,  but  loving  rather  illimitable 
fields  of  corn,  immense  squares  of  cabbage,  and 
tables  that  bend  beneath  the  weight  of  savory  dishes. 
Eloquence  has  forgotten  the  forum,  the  senate  hall 
and  the  hustings,  and  now  rather  pours  its  burning 
power  upon  toast-speeches  at  public  dinners,  fired 
by  the  rich  odors   of   turtle-soup   and  champagne. 


Sermons  and  Extracts.  159 

According  to  the  notions  of  this  bread-loving  age, 
even  beauty  can  only  reach  its  meridian  in  the  din- 
ing-room, and  social  etiquette  knows  no  higher  com- 
pliment than  an  invitation  to  dine,  or  a  card  intimat- 
ing that  madam  and  tea  send  their  compliments  for 
nine  o'clock  p.  m.  Thus  the  eating  idea  has  eclipsed 
all  others,  and  man  the  animal,  has  dethroned  man 
the  spirit.  Bread  must  be  had  if  the  soul  is  lost. 
Starvation  is  esteemed  the  very  worst  thing  in  this 
w^orld  or  the  next,  and  whatever  delays  dinner  is  a 
foe  to  the  summit  of  human  felicity." 


FROM  A  SERMON  ON  "DIVINE  LIFE." 

Romans  viii,  8. 

' '  The  Divine  Life  in  the  soul  is  a  distinct  existence, 
given  directly  from  God,  and  subordinating  all  other 
forms  of  life  and  forces,  i.  The  text  cannot  be  true 
in  the  common  acceptation  of  the  terms,  and  the 
common  understanding  of  the  proposition.  We  do 
not  accept  such  a  theology.  2.  Perhaps  some  of 
the  well-established  doctrines  of  Biology,  will  throw 
light  upon  the  subject.  3.  This  comparatively  new 
science  has  engaged  the  noblest  intellects,  and  while 
greatly  abused  by  the  infidel  sages  of  France,  has 
contributed  no  little  to  theological  science.  4.  The 
mineral  world  has  no  life,  but  is  governed  by  an 
organic  law  of  form,  that  subordinates  the  chemical 
law^  of  atoms  and  composition.     The  vegetable  adds 


i6o     Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

to  the  mineral  vitalit}^  with  the  single  function  of 
plasticity,  subordinating  the  mineral  law.  The  ani- 
mal adds  to  the  vegetable  sensation  and  perception, 
and  subordinates  the  vegetable.  Man  adds  to  the 
animal  reason  and  subordinates  all  below.  The 
Divine  Life  in  the  soul  is  a  distinct  existence,  given 
of  God  and  subordinating  all  others." 

It  may  be  remarked  in  this  connection  that  Dr. 
Craven  never  realized  an}^  conflict  between  science 
and  revealed  religion,  but  rather  made  science  the 
servant  of  religion.  He  reconciled  Genesis  with 
Geolog}'  by  interpreting  the  six  days  of  creation  to 
be  figurative  representing  long  periods. ' ' 


FROM  A  SYNOPTICAL  SERMON  ENTITLED  "  ALL  THINGS  ARE 
TEACHERS  AND  ALL  TEACHING  IS  NECESSARY," 

Job  xii,  7,  S,  9. 

"Without  knowledge  there  is  no  growth,  and 
without  a  continual  increase  of  knowledge  there  can 
be  no  real  progress.  This  is  true  of  the  minister, 
the  phj^sician,  lawyer,  farmer,  or  merchant.  Hence 
many  Christians  lack  all  elements  of  growth  soon 
after  conversion. 

' '  The  scources  of  this  knowledge  are  the  physical 
w^orld,  the  mathematical  world,  the  mental  and  the 
religious.  All  these  are  pious  books  of  Revelation. 
God  is  in  all  alike.  They  are  all  essential  elements 
of  growth,   and  without  them  there  can  be  no  real 


Sermons  and  Extracts.  i6i 

man  at  all.  Then  the  scientific  is  the  explanation  of 
the  moral.  Take  away  all  created  things  or  ideas 
of  things,  and  man  could  not  understand  God's 
moral  teaching  at  all.  If  the  world — its  surround- 
ings— did  not  explain  the  Lord's  Sermon  on  the 
Mount,  who  could  understand  it?  Then  the  more 
we  understand  of  these  things,  the  better  we  shall 
understand  the  Bible.  Perhaps  the  whole  Bible  will 
not  be  completely  understood  till  all  nature  is." 


FROM  A  DISCOURSE  ON  "CONFIDENCE  IN  MAN." 
2  Cor.  vii,  i6. 

'  *  A  large  part  of  the  evil  and  misery  of  the  world 
arises  from  a  want  of  confidence  in  man.  Faith  in 
man  is  next  in  importance  to  faith  in  God.  Faith 
in  God  brings  out  all  the  blessings  of  salvation. 
Faith  in  man  is  the  only  thing  that  can  develop  all 
that  is  noble  in  man,  and  bring  out  all  the  blessings 
of  united,  genial  hearts.  *  *  When  we  lack  this 
grace  we  weaken  all  with  whom  we  come  in  contact; 
our  influence  is  unnerving  and  pernicious  upon  all 
hearts.  Infidelity  to  God  or  man  is  ruinous  to  soci- 
ety. Sceptics,  scoffers,  and  misanthropes  inevita- 
bly ruin  society  by  repressing  all  that  is  noble.    ^   * 

* '  A  want  of  confidence  in  man  ruins  our  own 
efforts,  paralizes  our  energy,  cools  and  hardens  the 
heart,  kills  all  inducement  to  activity  and  endurance. 

*  *  A  want  of  confidence  makes  us  miserable  beyond 


1 62      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

all  other  human  effects.  A  heart  without  confidence 
can  neither  have  ease,  sympathy,  joy,  hope,  enthu- 
siasm, nor  any  other  warming,  energizing  power. 

"The  cultivation  of  the  genial,  social,  confiding, 
sympathetic  and  philanthropic,  is  one  of  the  most 
important  Christian  duties." 


FROM  NOTES  ON    ««THE  RASHNESS    OP   TRANSGRESSIONS." 

:Matt.  xxvii,  25. 

"  It  is  said  the  death-shriek  never  ceases  to  ring 
in  the  ears  of  the  murderer;  homeless  and  a  wan- 
derer, he  never  can  escape  the  agonies  of  the  depart- 
ing soul.  What,  then,  must  be  the  crime  of  murder- 
ing the  son  of  God,  of  stretching  forth  a  hand  to 
dethrone  the  eternal  Jehovah,  of  brutally  and  fiend- 
ishl}^  slaj^ing  the  Prince  of  Peace.  Lawless  liberty 
ma}'  glory  in  the  red  poinard  of  Brutus,  dripping  with 
the  blood  of  Caesar;  purity  may  canonize  Virginia, 
consecrating  her  countrymen  with  her  own  heart's 
blood;  and  constitutional  freedom  may  laud  Cromwell, 
sprinkling  the  diadem  of  English  right  with  the  blood 
of  a  crowned  king,  but  who  can  exult  in  a  nation  of 
sinners  doubly  sealing  their  own  damnation  with  the 
gushing  blood  of  God's  eternal  Son? 

' '  Earth  has  many  places  made  fearful  b}'  crime. 
No  wandering  Tartar  lingers  at  the  beautiful  foun- 
tain of  Koordistan,  where  the  princess  of  Afghan  was 
murdered  by  the  Altai  robbers;  no  German  tarries 


Sermons  and  Extracts.  163 

all  night  at  the  old  castle  of  Tubingen,  where  Mary 
of  Tours  was  killed  at  dawn,  after  hearing  all  night 
the  cries  of  her  tortured  child;  and  no  Scotchman 
will  enter  the  cave  of  Ben  Nevis,  where  the  young 
Earl  of  Maury  was  starved  to  death.  There  are 
plains  and  places  so  stained  with  blood  and  cursed 
with  cruelty,  that  at  twihght  hours  they  seem  to  be 
filled  with  mocking  fiends  and  gibbering  ghosts.  But 
did  any  place  ever  witness  such  inhuman  cruelty  as 
Mount  Calvary  ?  x\nd  can  the  foot  of  earth '  s  last  man 
ever  tread  that  blood-stained  summit  without  feehng 
that  more  than  mortality  still  dwells  there?  Are 
there  not  still  traces  of  that  blood,  that  redeemed  a 
lost  world  and,  in  the  gloom  of  a  faded  sun,  van- 
quished the  king  of  terrors?  The  text  is  a  degree  of 
human  madness  and  ungovernable  frenzy  that  has 
no  parallel  in  all  the  history  of  earth. 

"Thus,  then,  naturally,  logically  and  theologi- 
cally, all  things  may  affect  us  and  help  us  as  though 
we  had  been  present,  experienced  and  formed  part  of 
them. 

' '  Universal  travel  ought  to  make  one  wise,  polished 
and  good ;  but,  by  belief,  we  can  take  all  with  more 
rapidity  and  less  expense. 

"  If  we  are  diHgent  as  we  should  be,  true  to  our- 
selves and  to  God,  we  may  be  w^ise  and  accomplished 
as  though  we  had  Hved  six  thousand  years;  had 
talked  with  Adam,  Moses,  Abraham  and  Jesus, 
because  all  this  may  be  realized  by  us. 


164  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

"As  though  we  had  traveled  all  over  earth — as 
though  we  had  begun  our  days  in  chaos — as  though 
we  had  traveled  more  than  3,000,000,000  miles,  and 
visited  10,000  stars — as  though  we  had  been  through 
heaven  and  hell  and  had  seen  the  judgment  day. 

"What  a  gigantic  power  has  God  given  us,  and 
what  elements  to  nurture  us  to  immortal  life  ! 

* '  All  things  work  for  us,  and  we  require  them  all. ' ' 


FROM  NOTES  ON  "DEMORALIZATION."' 

Isaiah  xxii,  13. 

"  'Let  US  eat  and  drink,  for  to-morrow  we  die,' 
said  the  old  Hebrew  world  of  sinners:  To  kalon  aga- 
thon  esti,  said  the  jovial,  pleasure-loving  Greek; 
dum  vivimus  vivamus,  said  the  elite  of  the  Roman 
world,  led  on  by  Horace  and  his  tuneful  brethren. 

■'  With  dainties  rich  aud  a  brimming  bowl, 
And  beauty,  and  music,  and  song, 
I'll  never  care  for  the  fate  of  ni}^  soul, 
Always  merry  and  always  young." 

says  the  modern  pleasure-seeking  reveller.  Thus 
the  old  maxim  has  lived  through  all  ages  and  is  still 
a  potent  theology  with  all  classes. 

"This  godless-pleasure  life,  this  mania  after  arti- 
ficial excitement,  this  carelessness  of  the  future,  is  a 
species  of  spiritual  madness.  It  borders  on  derange- 
ment. It  is  a  certain  sign  of  high  and  dangerous 
fever  in  the  body  politic  or  in  social  life." 


Sermons  and  Extracts.  165 

from  notes  on  "brotherhood." 

I  Peter  iii,  8. 

"Man  alone  could  not  be  man:  having  the  form 
and  functional  endowment  of  a  rational  creature  he 
could  be  nothing  but  a  brute.  To  be  a  man  or 
woman,  we  must  speak  or  be  spoken  to;  we  must  hear 
the  human  voice,  and  see  the  human  countenance. 
We  must  not  only  commune  with  nature  and  God, 
but  with  man;  we  must  see  the  light  of  kindred 
thought  and  feel  the  fire  of  human  souls.  Some 
kind  of  community,  some  number  of  neighbors,  and 
some  tie  of  common  interest  must  bind  us  together. 
We  must  have  congregations,  meetings  and  assem- 
blages of  the  people,  not  only  to  accomplish  certain 
specific  ends,  but  for  the  health  of  the  soul  and  the 
culture  of  the  finer  humanities.  The  log-rolling, 
house-w^arming,  huskings,  and  gatherings  of  a  new 
rural  population,  not  only  more  effectively  accom- 
plish certain  work  by  union  of  effort,  but  they  are 
needful  to  soul-hfe,  and  are  the  rude  culturing  in- 
struments of  a  higher  life.  It  is  not  good  to  live  so 
isolated  that  we  cannot  see  the  smoke  from  our 
neighbor's  chimney,  nor  hear  the  bark  of  his  dog. 
Clanship  may  carry  this  too  far.  Aristocratic  caste 
may  restrict  too  much.  Parties  may  use  it  for  sel- 
fish ends.     Rings  may  use  it  for  injustice. 

"  Man  in  society  is  Uke  a  flower, 

Blown  in  its  native  bed.     'Tis  then  alone 

His  faculties,  expanded  in  full  bloom, 

Shine  out;  there  only  wait  their  proper  use." 


1 66     Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

*  *  Without  unity  through  union  nothing  noble  can 
be  accomplished.  Human  unit}'  has  as  3'et  been 
very  imperfect,  3'et  it  has  by  the  railroad  reduced  a 
mile  to  thirty-two  rods ;  and  by  steamships,  the  At- 
lantic is  only  1,000  miles  wide.  It  has  given  better 
clothing,  more  food,  and  more  comforts  of  every 
kind.  It  is  educating  the  masses,  building  colleges 
and  churches,  presenting  strong  barriers  to  crime, 
and  lifting  the  nations  from  gods  of  wood  and 
stone.  ^^  '•'  Ever}'  thing  that  man  wants  is  too 
great  for  single  effort ;  it  must  be  the  result  of  many 
hands  and  heads  and  hearts.  Without  unity  there  is 
no  happiness;  the  stream  of  bliss  must  flow  through 
more  hearts  than  one  before  it  can  flash  with  joy.  A 
thought,  or  a  word,  is  enriched  by  age  until  it  flows 
with  nectar.  Nothing  but  regeneration  can  lift  a 
man  above  narrow  selfishness  and  make  him  see  that 
his  good  is  the  good  of  all." 


FRAGMENT  WITHOUT  TITLE  OR  TEXT. 

' '  They  that  grow  up  to  manhood  with  no  thought 
but  such  as  is  aft'orded  by  the  nursery  and  youthful 
experience,  begin  the  world  afresh  and  take  their 
places  next  to  Adam  ;  but  they  w^ho  live  upon  great, 
rich  thought,  vSome  Asiatic,  some  Greek,  some  Ro- 
man, and  much  Anglo-Saxon,  live  six  thousand 
years  in  their  youth,  and  may  take  their  places  next 


Srrmons  and  Extracts.  167 

to  Calhoun,  Maury  or  Webster.  The  ignorant  miser 
has  thought  feeling  and  Hfe,  as  old  as  the  flood ;  the 
graceless  devotee  of  pleasure  ought  to  date  himself 
about  the  times  of  Sodom,  and  the  stupid  bigot  is 
contemporary  with  Goths,  Huns,  and  other  tribes  of 
the  dark  ages.  We  must  be  raised  upon  thought ; 
all  the  light  of  the  past  must  enter  our  eyes,  that  we 
may  clearly  see  the  present;  but  we  must  be  more 
than  a  pantry,  or  even  a  library;  we  must  put  forth 
a  life  of  our  own,  not  like  any  that  has  been  or  is  ; 
when  we  die  the  human  mind  ought  to  make  another 
mark  upon  the  scroll  of  time. ' ' 

The  following  are  mere  fragments  of  thought  found 
among  his  notes  : 

' '  Theology  is  a  tedious  and  difficult  science,  and 
beyond  controversy  hinders  the  progress  of  the  gos- 
pel. But  salvation  is  an  easy  science.  Nearl}-  all 
people  can  comprehend  its  conditions,  its  active  forces, 
and  its  results.  The  sectarian  way  to  heaven  is  cir- 
cuitous, doubtful  and  irksome;  the  Bible  way  is  plain 
and  direct." 

**The  imagination  may  do  great  things  in  fiction, 
poetry  and  art.  The  reason  may  be  wonderful  in  its 
grasp.  The  understanding  may  be  a  vast  storehouse 
of  valuables.  The  polish  of  mind  may  be  a  lustre 
in  the  midst  of  all  bright  things.  But  high  above 
all  these  is  the  gigantic  powder  of  belief.  ^  *  Men 
and  women,  made  of  the  thoughts,  inclinations  and 


1 68      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

aflfections  of  this  or  an}^  other  one  age,  are  poor, 
feeble  and  incapable  of  earning  even  a  penn}^  in  the 
Lord's  vineyard.  Real  people,  of  good  material  and 
fast  colors — people  that  will  bear  wearing  and  wash- 
ing and  ironing — must  have  in  them  somewhat  as  old 
as  Moses;  something  from  j-esterday's  newspapers, 
and  somewhat  that  God  has  sent  back  w^ord  by  reve- 
lation from  the  other  side  of  the  resurrection.  Kvevy 
one  that  is  capable  of  being  a  finished  saint  must  be 
a  well-made  man  or  woman;  and  it  requires  all  time, 
and  a  part  of  eternity  to  make  them.  It  requires  all 
humanity  rightly  to  make  a  man.  Part  of  humanity 
is  gone  to  dust;  part  now  lives,  and  partis  3'et  to  be. 
The  past  we  must  obtain  b}^  belief,  most  of  the 
present  we  must  realize  in  the  same  way,  and  the 
future  we  must  see  b}^  faith.  Thus,  burning  Sodom, 
Noah  on  the  flood,  Esther  saving  a  nation,  Christ  at 
the  tomb  of  Lazarus,  and  John's  might}^  multitude 
of  the  redeemed,  must  all  come  to  our  realization  by 
belief.  Through  this  might}'  door  come  lights  from 
the  whole  universe;  dews  and  streams  from  all  God's 
dominions,  and  thus  all  things  work  together  for  our 
good. 

*  *  The  high  spiritual  can  be  accomplished  only  in 
connection  with  the  highest  human.  At  the  bottom 
of  all  greatness  or  usefulness,  either  human  or  divine, 
there  must  be  a  solid  foundation  of  pure  human 
nature.  The  greatest  men  have  the  most  of  the 
human  in  them,  and  the  heroic,  historic  women  of 


Extracts  from  his  IvEcturks.  169 

every  age  were  none  of  your  dainty,  dew- fed,  star- 
beamed,  ethereal,   unearthly  abstractions;  but  they 
were  most  tremendously  human,  with  abundance  of 
good,  rich  blood  :  good  eaters,  famous  for  laughing 
or  crying,  and  capable  of  a  good,  sound  rage  when 
occasion   demanded.      An  inexhaustible  abundance 
of  the  human  is  the  stuff  to  make  saints  out  of. 
Neither  God  nor  man  has  any  use  for  blasted,  sap- 
rotted,   worm-eaten    timber.     Men   and   women    in 
their  natural,   unconverted   estate,   that  despise  all 
enjoyment,   go  into  spasms  at  the  barking  of  dogs, 
cannot    tolerate   romping,     crying    children,     faint 
at  three  drops  of  blood,   would  rather  drink  stale 
water  than  go  to  the  well,  and  can  have  all  their 
teeth  extracted  without  uttering  a  groan,  are  mere 
rubbish  and  waste-paper.     They  have  too  little  hu- 
man   nature  to  ever   get  religion;  they  are  already 
given  over,  not  for  hardness  but  dryness  of  heart. 
The  ancients  made  even  their  wounded  gods  roar  in 
anguish,    thereby   showing   their   fidelity   to  art  if 
nothing   else.      An   unconverted    man,    that   never 
breaks  the  commandments,  must  be  a  poor  dried-up 
mummy,  incapable  of  good  or  bad.     There  is  more 
hope  of  a  downright,  plump,  jolly  sinner  than  of  a 
prim,  austere  old  moraHst.     The  only  way  men  can 
behave  themselves  decently,  without  Jesus  and  the 
Holy  Ghost,  is  to  murder  their  own  human  nature, 
and  make  themselves  something  for  which  there  is  no 
redemption.     The  divine  nature  was  killed  by  the 
12 


lyo  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

fall,  and  the  human  nature  was  badly  crippled:  if 
we  need  the  atonement  for  the  one,  we  need  a  sur- 
geon for  the  other.  Both  natures  were  in  perfection 
in  Adam  the  first  man,  in  Christ  the  second  Adam, 
and  must  be  in  all  the  children  of  the  kingdom. 

* '  To  teach  is  to  advance  from  the  known  to  the 
unknown,  from  darkness  to  light,  from  the  obscure 
to  the  clear.  To  do  this  requires  the  old  speaking 
with  new  tongues  and  new  significance ;  or  else 
new  things  speaking  the  old  dialect.  Hence  sym- 
bolism is  the  great  medium  of  advance.  All  things 
are  historical.  The  present  explains  the  past  and 
the  past  explains  the  present :  either  would  be  unin- 
telligible without  the  other.  Ancient  things  pass 
not  away,  they  enter  into  and  make  what  is.  Thus 
every  age  flashes  new  light  upon  Providence  and 
Revelation,  as  new  results  are  wrought  out." 

"This  body  is  a  temple.  It  is  wrought  out  of 
material  nicely  fashioned,  laid  with  inimitable  skill, 
and  cemented  by  the  powers  of  vitality.  It  is 
finished  with  elaborate  compartments,  with  the  rich- 
est coloring,  and  the  most  splendid  decorations.  It 
is  the  dwelling  place  of  the  Spirit,  the  abode  of  im- 
mortality. 

' '  In  this  alone  can  the  Spirit  hold  converse  with 
God.  None  can  go  out  of  his  temple  to  worship 
God  in  a  holier  place.  Here  in  the  several  apart- 
ments must  each  power  and  faculty  await  the  com- 


HxTRACTvS    FROM   HIS   lyECTURKS.  171 

ing  of  the  I^ord.     Hence  both  a  sound  bod}-  and  a 
sound  mind  are  essential  to  the  noblest  service. 

'  *  This  is  the  only  temple  on  earth  that  God  in- 
habits. He  may  write  His  name  upon  all  created 
things,  and  make  His  melody  ring  out  from  all 
things,  but  He  inhabits  nothing  on  earth  but  the 
human  temple." 

vr  "Sf  -.f  •^^  Vw"  •K" 

' '  Without  the  Gospel  no  man  is  alive.  The  sin- 
ners of  this  world  are  dead,  their  wild  gambols  and 
ungodly  glee  are  mere  animal  spasms.  Their  laugh 
and  huzza  are  hollow  and  hideous.  They  know 
nothing  of  that  high,  glorious  life  that  is  hid  with 
Christ  in  God.  To  own  abundance  of  wealth,  make 
a  vast  parade  in  servants,  equipage  and  dress,  and 
feel  the  exclusive,  disdainful  aristocratic  hauteur,  is 
not  life  ;  to  press  every  thought  and  every  hour  into 
the  service  of  pecuniary  acquisition,  starve  and  freeze 
the  hands  in  the  field,  encroach  in  all  trades,  insult 
and  oppress  the  widow  and  orphan,  and  neglect  wife, 
children,  home  and  God,  is  not  life.  To  cut  all  social 
existence  into  sets  and  circles,  pretend  to  know  none 
but  the  elected  few,  and  banish  all  concern  for  the 
great  family  of  man,  is  not  life.  None  of  this  is  the 
life  that  was  brought  to  light  by  the  Son  of  God. ' ' 

•5f  7(-  Tf  ^  ^  -Jf 

"Every  line  of  science  is  a  pathway  to  God.  He 
(the  Christian)  ought  to  praise  the  iron,  lead,  gold 
and  silver.  Then  he  should  make  them  praise  God 
in  harps  and  organs  and  every  form  of  music. ' ' 


172      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

"He  ought  to  praise  man,  not  note  his  defects, 
but  dwell  upon  his  excellencies  and  nurture  them  by 
sweet,  loving  words.  Though  it  is  said  that  praise 
spoils,  praise  and  not  blame  is  the  true  nurture  of 
greatness. ' ' 

"Every  capacit}^  of  man,  whether  intellect,  sensi- 
bility or  will;  w^hether  thought,  emotion,  desire  or 
volition,  must  have  expression.  Without  that  they 
neither  live  nor  grow  nor  work.  That  expression 
may  be  b}'  letters,  b}^  art,  by  works,  or  in  many 
ways;  but  ever3'thing  in  man  of  any  force  expresses 
itself,  and  every  man  writes  his  life  upon  the  world 
in  some  kind  of  expression." 

><:  :^c  ^  ^  >|<  ^c 

' '  The  soul  that  has  never  worshipped  has  never 
known  what  it  is  to  be  man  or  woman.  Every  soul 
wants  to  worship,  and  is  useless  till  it  does." 

' '  Whatever  tends  to  gratify  human  desire  is  wealth. 
All  wealth  is  artificial,  a  compound  of  the  Divine 
and  human.  Material  wealth  has  divinit}'  in  it. 
Every  article  of  luxury  or  use  has  in  it  the  super- 
natural, quite  as  conspicuous  as  the  human.  God 
and  man  work  together  in  one  eternal  copartnership, 
and  when  man  does  his  part  properly,  there  is 
always  harmony  and  success. ' ' 

^  :i:  *  ^  *  * 

' '  God  is  not  poor,  that  he  cannot  provide  for  his 
children.     The  earth  is  the  Lord's,  and  the  fullness 


Extracts  from  his  Lectures.  173 

thereof.  JevSUS  found  gold  to  pay  tax.  He  can 
make  the  earth  fruitful :  the  stars  are  his  plantations, 
and  ungathered  fruit  is  dropping  from  the  trees  of 
paradise." 

'  *  There  are  such  things  as  spiritual  presentiments. 
A  storm  on  the  coast  of  Africa  troubles  the  waves  on 
the  American  shore.  Rheumatic  joints  foretell  the 
equinoctial  better  than  the  almanac.  The  forest 
moans  before  the  storm-cloud  rises  above  the  horizon. 
So  does  the  soul  of  man  have  admonition  of  coming 
evils  or  favors.  Angels  whisper  to  it,  and  the  Holy 
Ghost  prompts  it.  Bright  lights,  or  thunderings  or 
lightnings  upon  the  horizon  of  the  spirit,  are  never 
to  be  disregarded." 

5^  >|c  ^  ;f;  *  * 

"But  the  great  majority  leave  the  world  sooner 
than  they  ought:  the  interest  of  humanity  and  the 
Kingdom  of  Christ  require  the  services  of  old  men 
and  women.  We  have  no  right,  by  wilful  ignorance, 
carelessness  or  dissipation  to  break  the  pitcher  at  the 
fountain  before  any  water  has  been  carried  to  the 
thirsty  of  this  weary  w^orld." 

:);  ^  ^  *  ^  * 

' '  The  pyramids  and  catacombs  of  Egypt  are  the 
wonder  of  the  world,  but  they  are,  at  the  same  time, 
the  fadeless  epitaph  of  the  most  stupid  and  soulless 
form  of  civilization  ever  known  to  man.  The  con- 
temptible boob}^,  who  is  willing  to  live  upon  ances- 


174  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

tral  accumulations  and  spend  his  days  at  cheap 
gambling,  or  staring  at  beaut}^  on  the  sidewalk,  is  a 
worthy  compeer  of  the  Egyptian  gentleman." 

^  ;•;  :H  *  *  ^ 

**  Perhaps  the  truth  is,  that  we  all  unintentionally 
circumscribe  religion  too  much,  and  confine  it  to 
particular  effects  and  developments,  when  it  properly 
embraces  much  more.  It  is  purification  and  new 
life;  it  is  in  the  head  and  the  heart,  and  we  know  both 
by  thinking  and  feeling.  As  the  sun's  ray  has  light 
that  is  seen,  heat  that  is  felt,  and  chemical  power 
that  changes  and  builds  the  organic  kingdom,  so 
does  redemption  give  light  to  the  mind,  warming 
vitality  to  the  heart,  and  at  the  same  time  changes 
and  builds  up  the  spiritual  man.  As  water  is  for 
cleansing  and  for  drink,  for  show^ers  and  dews,  for 
rivers  and  oceans,  so  the  grace  of  God  is  of  many 
forms   and   applications,    suited  to   many    different 

necessities,  and  relieves  all  kinds  of  want. ' ' 

•jfi  ^  ^j^  ^  ^'  'M 

"  In  my  mind  I  cordially  embrace  the  doctrines  of 
the  church.  I  admire  the  sublimity  of  Revelation. 
I  am  touched  by  the  kindness  and  love  of  God.  I 
believe  in  the  church,  but  I  cannot  live  in  it;  it  is 
utterly  too  cold  and  formal  and  dead.  A  man  that 
can  be  a  good  church  member  in  these  days  is  fit  for 
nothing  else.  Whoever  can  be  content  to  live  with- 
out any  pleasure  for  the  present,  has  but  little  life  in 
him.     Such  a  lifeless  religion  will  never  do  for  me. 


Extracts  from  his  Lectures.  175 

All  thinking  and  no  feeling  is  the  dullest  of  all  pos- 
sible conceptions.  I  would  rather  have  the  jerks  like 
the  New  England  penitents,  or  the  rude  furor  of  a 
Western  camp-meeting,  than  the  lifeless  elegance  of 

one  of  your  cit}^  churches. ' ' 

*  ^  *  *  .  *  * 

In  a  sermon  on  the  Philosophy  of  Experience,  de- 
livered August,  1866,  after  quoting  a  paragraph  from 
Emerson  on  Compensation,  is  this  addition: 

"No  sorrow  on  earth  is  beyond  remedy,  and  no 
disaster  is  beyond  the  power  of  Providence  to  mend. 
No  grief  is  so  great  that  joy  cannot  dissolve  it;  no 
cloud  is  so  thick  and  black  that  the  winds  cannot 
blow  it  away,  and  no  desolation  was  ever  so  com- 
plete that  the  second  building  might  not  be  better 
than  the  first.  While  heaven  is  possible  no  man  has 
any  right  to  despair.  It  disparages  God's  goodness 
and  omnipotence  to  suppose  that  earthly  ills  can  find 
no  remedy. 

"  'The  Lord  is  my  shepherd;  I  shall  not  want.'  " 

jjc  :)c  ;K  ^i;  -Jf  -Jr 

"A  man's  strength  does  not  consist  so  much  in 
what  he  can  do  himself  as  in  w^hat  he  can  induce 
others  to  do." 

^  •!<-  TT  -^  ^  ^ 

**  Every  one  of  these  notions  has  been  and  is  be- 
lieved by  different  denominations  and  persons;  each 
can  seemingl}^  be  established  by  explicit  texts  of 
Scripture,  and  all  of  them  have  brought  forth  beau- 


176  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

tiful,  nourishing  fruit  in  the  lives  of  their  believers. 
None  but  bitter  sectarians  and  bigots  will  pretend  to 
say  that  the  different  churches  and  creeds  have  no 
apparent  foundation  in  the  Scriptures  for  their  sup- 
port, and  surely  none  would  be  so  unjust  or  unchar- 
itable as  to  say  that  there  had  not  been,  in  all  the 
churches,  lives  pre-eminently  holy,  most  charmingl}' 
beautiful,  and  enriched  with  every  Christian  grace." 

' '  Cicero  said  but  one  irreparable  calamity  can  be- 
fall a  man,  which  is  *  to  die  badly.'  Socrates  said 
*  no  man  should  be  pronounced  happy  till  the  man- 
ner of  his  death  is  known.'  To  be  ready  to  die  is 
the  best  preparation  to  live." 

' '  The  results  of  ever}^  age  are  specially  marked 
by  the  heart  productions  of  that  age — the  heart  has 
marked  itself  deeper  upon  ever}'  age  than  the  head 
has.  Great  heads  are  immortalized  in  stone,  great 
hearts  are  written  upon  the  race. ' ' 

"  We  want  more  of  the  ornamental.  All  matters 
of  fact  ought  to  be  beautiful  things.  All  imple- 
ments ought  to  have  the  proportions  and  lines  of 
beauty.  We  want  more  charity,  more  giving  and 
less  buying  and  selling.  We  want  more  of  the  com- 
memorative. The  dead  should  still  speak,  and  in  all 
the  highways  and  by-paths  of  the  multitude  the 
monuments  of  departed  worth  should  tell  their  story 
to  coming  ages. 


Extracts  from  his  Lkctures.  177 

"  In  history  we  want  more  of  the  gentle,  the  lov- 
ing, the  courteous ;  more  of  home  scenes — more 
about  mother  and  children." 

*  *  Great  talents  can  only  be  developed  by  great  oc- 
casions. The  inner  soul  comes  forth  only  to  meet 
distinguished  guests.  Thus  were  born  the  Iliad, 
Paradise  Lost,  St.  Paul,  Luther,  etc. 

"Nothing  except  God  can  accomplish  its  end 
alone.  All  created  things  are  double.  An3^thing 
alone  would  lose  its  significance.  Sunlight  without 
eyes  or  vegetables  ;  the  air  without  lungs  or  plants 
or  earth  ;  the  diamond  without  light.  '  A  thing  of 
beauty  is  a  joy  forever,'  but  nothing  is  beautiful 
alone.  Raffaelle  said  no  maiden  ever  reached  her 
meridian  of  beauty  till  love  bloomed  in  her  heart." 

jjc  ;{<  ^c  ^  >;;  ^ 

"The  heart  must  be  heard  in  religious  things,  it 
has  revelations  peculiar  to  itself.  There  are  unspo- 
ken teachings  for  all  souls.  The  greatest  and  best 
part  of  God's  revelation  has  never  been  written." 

;(;  ^  ^  ;};  H^  >}: 

"  The  wisdom  and  accomplishments  of  this  world, 
with  the  doctrines  and  divine  life  of  Christianity, 
are  transcendently  brilliant  and  infinitely  useful  and 
desirable  ;  but  without  these  doctrines  and  this  divine 
life  they  are  a  philosophical  error,  a  moral  failure 
and  practical  impudence.  I  have  a  scholar's  respect 
for  the  great  thinkers  and  actors  of  the  past ;  I  have 


178      Life  of  Braxton  Cravkn. 

felt,  and  still  feel,  a  lordly  presence  in  the  shades  of 
Tusculum,  on  the  shore  of  Scio,  in  the  grove  of  the 
Academy,  upon  the  banks  of  the  Rubicon,  upon  the 
field  of  Wagram,  and  in  the  halls  of  Westminster ; 
but  as  crucified  to  the  world  and  a  living  minister  of 
God,  I  ask  what  good  have  they  done  ?  Where  and 
in  what  have  they  benefitted  mankind  !  What  polity 
of  national  good  did  they  establish  ?  What  improve- 
ment in  labor  have  they  devised?  What  vice  have 
the}^  destroyed?" 

"If  our  actions,  our  resolutions,  our  great  inten- 
tions and  mighty  works  would  only  come  to  what  we 
aim  at,  and  not  go  beyond  our  wildest  calculation, 
we  should  soon  push  Providence  out  of  the  world, 
and  rule  the  globe  absolutely.  But  our  gardens  bear 
herbs  we  never  planted,  a  strange  hand  hath  grafted 
all  our  trees,  and  every  day  there  is  a  guest  at  our 

table  we  never  invited." 

=}^  ^  ^  ^  ^  v;- 

' '  Like  the  exciting  food  and  intense  heat  of  the 

tropics  upon  lyons,   tigers  and  serpents,  the  wrath 

of  God  upon  a  guilty  conscience  is  maddening." 

'  *  There  is  something  in  a  large  number  of  specta- 
tors to  produce  propriety  of  conduct,  repress  all  ig- 
noble sentiments,  and  inspire  elevated  sentiments  and 
actions.  Indecency  always  seeks  solitude;  like  the 
condor,  it  preys  alone  and  then  seeks  some  secluded 
haunt  to  sleep  off  its  excesses. ' ' 


Extracts  from  his  Lkcturks.  179 

*'Cold  people  are  neither  profitable  nor  loving. 
^  ''^  All  great  belief  is  founded  upon  intelligence, 
enthusiasm  and  courage.  Great  belief  is  possible 
only  to  those  who  attempt  great  things.  Eloquence 
demands  a  theme.  The  soul  is  quickened  by  the 
magnitude  of  the  work.  Little  thoughts  and  poor 
conceptions  kill  the  spirit.  If  God  should  offer  us 
fifty  dollars,  or  a  great  dinner,  we  could  not  be- 
lieve it." 

^.  ;K  *  *  *  * 

"The  church  and  the  world  need  purer,  more 
exalted  and  wider  conceptions  of  Christian  Ufe,  char- 
acter, ends  and  aims.  The  old  theories  and  stimu- 
lating speculations  are  dead.  Our  treasured  ideals 
are  the  laughing  stock  of  school  boys.  The  best 
general  conception  of  a  Christian  is  not  as  good  as 
Chatham  or  Fox.  When  the  sinner  sketches  the 
ideal  of  that  which  you  invite  him  to  be,  he  sees 
nothing  better  than  a  straight-laced  puritan  listening 
for  death.  The  Christian's  Sabbath  may  be  good, 
but  it  is  neither  rich  nor  beautiful.  Man  forever  de- 
mands and  must  have  something  new.  We  must  see 
man  not  only  triumphing  over  coarse  vices,  but 
blooming  in  all  beauty,  commanding  the  earth,  vege- 
tation, the  clouds  and  the  seasons.  The  gospel  must 
beat  sin  in  its  own  field,  and  prove  itself  a  fountain 
of  universal  good." 

=5;  *  H«  >!=  *  ^ 

'  *  Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified  is  the  only  pleas- 
ant sentence  for  the  dying;  it  is  more  than  music, 


i8o  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

more  than  eloquence.  At  that  dread  hour  all  the 
fine  things  of  Shakespeare  are  forgotten,  the  sub- 
limity of  Milton  avails  not,  and  the  melody  of  Rogers 
is  discord,  but  the  great  sentence  of  Paul  (i  Cor. 
2:  2),  is  the  chariot  of  the  Lord   to  waft  the  soul 

home  to  heaven. ' ' 

^  ^  ^  ^'  ^  ^ 

"  If  the  monster  vices  of  the  day  are  ever  arrested 
in  their  course  of  cruelt}'  and  blood,  it  will  not  be  by 
heaping  piles  of  dark  adjectives  upon  them,  or  gib- 
beting them  with  bitter  denunciation.  They  may 
thus  be  driven,  to  some  extent,  from  the  light  of 
da3^;  but  they  will  still  dwell  in  the  suburbs  of  de- 
cency, or  revel  in  disguise  in  the  gilded  halls  of 
fashionable  dissipation.  If  names  were  things,  the 
vices  named  and  denounced  in  the  New  Testament 
would  be  extinct;  the  ver}'  words  by  which  they  were 
called  have  become  vulgar  or  insulting,  and  to  men- 
tion them  with  a  personal  application  meets  the 
immediate  frown  of  so-called  good  society,  or  perhaps 
a  challenge  to  mortal  combat.  But  are  the  vices 
dead?  Xo,  veril}' :  the}^  are  more  intense,  more  in- 
geniously corrupting,  and  more  ruthless  in  their 
infernal  orgies  than  at  any  time  past." 


Baccalaureate  Sermon.  i8i 


CHAPTER  IV. 

BACCALAUREATE  SERMON. 

2  Corinthians  iii  :  i8. 

"An  hour  arrives  in  the  life  of  every  man,  import- 
ant for  the  present  and  heavily  loaded  with  conse- 
quences for  the  future:  an  hour  when  he  must  look 
away  from  the  landscape  of  youth  and  the  shady 
retreats  of  boyhood  to  the  dusty  plains  of  actual  life. 
There  comes  a  time  when  '  father's  home,'  the  pole 
star  of  youth,  must  be  exchanged  for  another;  when 
all  the  strongholds  of  youth's  defence  must  be  for- 
saken for  the  untried  promises  upon  the  page  of  life. 
The  young  sailor  upon  hfe's  sea  must  boldly  pull 
away  from  the  shore  upon  a  swelling  ocean,  whose 
uncharted  quicksands  he  has  been  taught  to  fear  but 
knows  not  how  to  encounter.  While  yet  in  minority, 
we  can  look  to  father  for  counsel  and  pecuniar}^  aid, 
to  mother  for  consolation  and  love,  to  sisters  for 
sympathy  and  affection,  to  brothers  for  alliance  and 
strength,  to  college  for  instruction  and  precept;  but 
when  all  these  must  be  forsaken,  where  then  shall 
we  look  for  that  store  of  rich  things  that  the  head 
needs,  the  heart  covets,  and  our  interest  demands? 

"You,  my  young  friends  of  the  Senior  Class,  now 
occupy  that  envied  and  yet  unenviable  position.  You 
stand  upon  the  summit  of  youth.     Behind  you  lie  the 


1 82       Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

calm  days  and  serene  skies  of  a  clime  devoid  of  irk- 
some care. 

"  '  Murmuring  rills  and  laughing  sport 
Roll  through  shade  and  bower  ; 
And  smiling  scenes  that  fondly  court 
The  boldest  wing  of  fancy's  power.' 

"You  are  just  emerging  from  the  halls  of  College, , 
with  physical  power  ripening  to  perfection,  intel- 
lectual cultivation  extensive  and  thorough,  hopes 
undimmed  b}'  clouds  and  saddened  b}'  no  disappoint- 
ments. But  direct  your  attention  along  the  wa}^  of 
the  future:  that  waving  foliage  5'ou  imagine  is  naught 
but  the  drapery  of  fancy's  weaving;  those  smooth 
lakes  are  the  mirage  of  disappointment;  those  beau- 
tiful mountains  are  onl}^  the  airy  drawings  of  your 
own  imagination. 

"  '  Dusty  plains  and  dreary  vales  ; 

Rugged  mountains,  steep  and  high, 
Where  weary  youth  so  sadly  fails, 
And  lives  alone  to  groan  and  die.' 

' '  It  therefore  becomes  a  question  of  importance 
to  what  point  you  should  direct  your  attention,  what 
aim  should  fire  your  energies,  what  motives  should 
sway  the  soul's  decision,  and  what  landmark  will 
guide  you  safely  to  the  great  destiny  for  which  God 
created  you.  Happily,  the  Bible  on  this,  as  on  all 
other  moral  subjects,  aifords  abundant  instruction. 

' '  We  are  instructed  by  our  text  to  look  into  the 
great  glass  of  the  universe,  behold  the  image  of  our 
Creator,  and  by  so  looking  to  be  changed  from  glory 
to  glor}^  into  His  own  likeness.     I  shall  attempt  to 


Baccalaureate  Sermon.  183 

show  you  that  the  only  safe  course  for  youth  is  to 
gaze  steadil}^  upon  the  manifestations  of  God  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour,  and  how,  by  that  species 
of  improvement,  we  may  discharge  the  claims  earth 
justly  holds  upon  us,  and  attain  the  high  destiny  for 
which  we  were  created. 

'*I.  We  behold,  as  in  a  glass,  the  glory  of  the 
lyord.  The  great  glass  that  reflects  this  glory  of  the 
Lord  is  the  material  world  around,  the  immaterial 
world  within  us,  and  Revelation  sent  to  us  from 
heaven.  The  whole  earth  reflects  the  majesty, 
beauty  and  wisdom  of  God,  warning  us  in  tones  of 
thunder  to  pursue  the  right  and  avoid  the  wrong, 
and  wooing  us  with  ten  thousand  tender  associations 
to  open  our  hearts  to  love  and  holiness.  The  broad 
forests  of  this  new  world,  the  gigantic  Andes  of  our 
Southern  sister,  the  parched  Sahara  of  Africa,  the 
spicey  breezes  of  Araby  the  Blest,  and  the  ocean's 
melody  upon  a  thousand  shores,  enlarge  the  mind, 
elevate  the  soul  and  show  us  the  image  of  our  Father^ 
Who  can  gaze  upon  the  eagle  soaring  above  the 
storm,  the  lion  waking  the  echoes  of  the  desert,  or 
the  monster  of  the  ocean  careering  in  might}^  gam- 
bols amid  polar  seas,  and  not  see  the  impress  of  Om- 
nipotence ? 

"I  envy  not  the  man's  sensibilities  who  can  look 
without  pious  emotions  upon  the  rich  fruitage  of 
earth,  the  golden  harvests  waving  over  boundless 
acres,  and  the  circling  seasons  bearing  their  profu- 


184      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

sion  of  all  the  physical  man  can  desire.  I  admire 
rather  the  devout  pantheism  of  the  pagan,  who  felt 
the  presence  of  a  God  in  ever}'  grove,  worshipped  a 
naiad  in  every  fountain,  and  heard  oreads  chant  upon 
ever}^  hill- top.  But  the  richest  part  of  the  great 
mirror  reflective  of  Divinit}^  is  yet  to  be  mentioned. 
The  material  world,  with  all  its  noble  charms,  is  poor 
compared  with  the  riches  of  mind.  The  action  of 
intellect,  the  unlimited  power  of  memory,  the  deci- 
sive and  active  force  of  judgment,  and  the  more  than 
mortal  developments  of  reasoning,  give  us  the  image 
of  a  God  in  bold  and  striking  outlines.  Let  any 
man  look  into  his  own  mind  and  heart,  ponder  well 
its  amazing  grasp  of  thought,  its  untiring  wing  of 
imagination,  its  endless  sources  of  instruction  and 
improvement,  and  its  recuperative  energ}'  under  all 
circumstances  of  human  existence,  and  then  ask 
himself.  Whose  image  is  this?  Let  him  mark  that 
nice  power  of  discrimination  that  so  accurately  traces 
human  duty  amid  the  darkness  of  passion  and  igno- 
rance ;  that  unbribed,  incorruptible  monitor  within, 
that  vindicates  justice  and  truth  in  the  face  of  ava- 
rice, hatred,  revenge,  and  every  other  species  of  de- 
pravity ;  that  fountain  of  sympathy  for  sorrow  and 
pity  for  distress,  which  no  summer  suns  can  dry  up 
and  no  wintr}^  blasts  can  freeze ;  those  boundless, 
nameless  desires  which  inhabit  every  breast,  bearing 
us  away  from  earth,  and  beckoning  us  to  eternity 
— what  do  all  these  things  show  but  a  most  glorious 


Baccalaureate  Sermon.  185 

image  of  our  Creator?  I  assure  you,  m}^  young 
friends,  there  is  not  an  atom  of  this  globe,  nor  an  orb 
that  gilds  the  arch  of  night,  that  does  not  bear  an 
ineffaceable  impress  of  the  God-head.  Creation  is 
one  vast  mirror,  backed  by  eternity,  in  which  the 
face  of  our  Father  shines  divinely  bright. 

"The  Bible  is  not  so  much  a  mirror  as  a  lens  for 
the  Christian's  eye  ;  without  it  the  future  is  a  land 
of  darkness,  whose  onlj^  echo  is  horror  and  dread. 
Through  the  Bible,  the  Christian's  lens,  all  is  bright, 
hopeful  and  inviting  :  a  land  of  everlasting  spring 
looms  up  in  the  distance,  the  sunlight  of  eternity 
penetrates  the  darkness  of  the  tomb,  the  soul  sees  an 
escort  upon  the  borders  of  time  waiting  to  bear  it 
to  eternity  ;  a  great  city — the  new  Jerusalem — the 
saints'  everlasting  rest,  stands  full  in  view,  with 
jasper  walls  and  streets  of  gold ;  hard  by  the  throne 
stands  Jesus  Christ,  the  world's  Redeemer,  pleading 
for  ruined,  fallen  man,  and  welcoming  weary  mor- 
tals home. 

' '  Since  the  Star  of  Bethlehem  arose  upon  the 
world,  there  is  no  necessary  land  of  darkness  ;  the 
kingdoms  of  mind  and  matter  are  continents  of  light 
and  love;  creation's  broad  page,  once  all  enigmatical, 
reflects  the  Father,  robed  in  mercy,  and  not  a  pass- 
ing breeze  but  is  melodious  with  the  music  of  the 
spheres.  This,  my  friends,  is  a  glass  that  reflects 
without  magnifying  or  diminishing ;  glasses  of  hu- 
man make  may  reflect  a  view  of  the  body,  but  this 
13 


1 86      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

displays  character,  and  like  the  fabled  lens  of  the 
eastern  fairy,  it  shows  upon  the  ocean's  bottom  both 
glittering  pearls  and  frightful  monsters.  Few  of 
earth's  careless  multitude  ever  look  intently  upon 
the  great  speculum,  and  read  therein  the  attributes 
of  God,  their  Creator,  the  mercy  of  Jesus,  their  Re- 
deemer, and  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  their  Re- 
generator. Few  ever  see  therein  displaj^ed  their  own 
ruined  spirits,  their  uncurbed  and  deadl}^  passions, 
their  untold,  unbelieved  desires  stealing  through  the 
dimness  of  twilight  and  the  storm  of  eternal  despair, 
whose  dark  border  already  throws  gloom  over  the 
landscape  of  the  soul. 

' '  II.  But  our  text  informs  us  that,  by  gazing  upon 
this  image,  we  shall  be  changed  by  degrees  into  the 
same.  All  nature  is  certainly  double  ;  no  one  thing 
is  efficient  without  the  aid  of  another,  and  every- 
thing, from  the  lowliest  violet  to  the  sun  in  the  firm- 
ament, is  precisely  adapted  to  the  development  of 
something  else.  The  sight  of  vice  is  contagious,  the 
sounds  of  revelr}^  wake  the  powers  of  sin,  and  youth 
is  often  ruined  by  being  a  passive  spectator  at  scenes 
of  iniquity.  But  whosoever  walks  through  this 
world,  looking  into  creation's  glass,  thus  (as  saith 
the  Psalmist)  keeping  God  always  before  his  face, 
'  shall  wax  strong  in  spiritual  might,  and  shall  become 
a  giant  in  the  warfare  of  Israel. '  Whether  the  ser- 
pent can  charm  the  unwary  bird,  or  one  person,  by 
animal  magnetism,  can   control  the  will  of  another 


Baccalaureate  Sermon.  187 

or  not,  it  is  certain  that  God,  by  the  imagery  of 
Himself,  can  fortify  the  soul  with  virtue  and  win  it 
to  glory.  There  is  a  deep  magic  influence  pervading 
every  display  of  God's  goodness,  mercy  and  power, 
a  spiritual  attraction  dwelling  in  every  image  of  Di- 
vinity that  overawes  the  lower  passions  of  our  nature 
and  develops  the  nobility  within  us. 

"  It  is  ever  an  infallible  mark  of  a  great  mind  that 
it  delights  in  real,  pure,  great  truth,  and  the  basis 
of  ascendancy  in  such  minds  is  the  transforming 
power  of  truth  thus  beheld.  No  influences  of  a  sec- 
ondary nature,  no  flame  of  the  passions,  no  sympa- 
thetic flow  of  feeling  can  make  a  deep  and  lasting 
impression:  all  that  is  permanent  in  duration  and 
powerful  in  influence,  must  be  based  upon  truth, 
brought  home  to  the  heart  through  the  avenues  of 
the  understanding.  Great  poets,  orators  and  states- 
men— men  who  electrify  the  age  in  which  they  live, 
and  mould  succeeding  generations,  disdain  the  tinsel 
of  rhetoric  and  the  low  habit  of  appealing  to  the 
sympathies;  their  engine  is  truth,  divested  of  all 
ornament,  commended  by  nothing  but  its  own  inhe- 
rent excellence,  and  transforming  the  souls  of  men 
by  its  divine  impress.  If  the  w^orld  is  full  of  temp- 
tations to  vice,  it  is  equally  full  of  influences  for 
heaven.  If  we  will  be  still  and  gaze  intently  upon 
any  of  God's  works,  we  shall  find  virtue  springing 
into  life,  our  hearts  will  fill  with  fountains  of  sweet 
waters,  and  our  affections  will  seek  the  world's  Re- 


1 88  lyiFE  OF  Braxton  Craven. 

deemer.  The  church  in  its  various  branches,  the 
missionary  and  Bible  societies,  and  all  other  organi- 
zations of  grace  or  philanthropy,  are  much  prone,  at 
this  day,  to  use  a  great  variety  of  appeals,  parades 
and  inducements  to  impress  their  claims  upon  the 
reluctant  and  win  favor  from  the  unconcerned.  Even 
the  ministry  of  the  gospel,  either  incapable  of  wield- 
ing the  power  of  truth  or  distrusting  its  efficac}^ 
deals  largely  in  exhortation,  portrays  the  separation 
of  friends,  and  the  rending  of  all  social  relations, 
paints  scenes  of  death  and  all  the  tears  of  final  be- 
reavement. All  these  things  have  their  appropriate 
sphere,  and  are  as  lawful  in  the  cause  of  religion  as 
any  other,  but  to  use  them  as  the  chief  means  of 
eifect,  and  bring  them  forth  as  the  great  weapon  on 
all  occasions,  is  derogatory  to  the  claims  of  revela- 
tion, an  indignity  to  God,  the  author  of  all  truth, 
contemptible  in  the  sight  of  reason  and  common  sense, 
exceedingly-  harmful  to  those  most  interested,  and 
justly  entitles  the  man  who  practices  such  a  course 
to  the  appellation  of  demagogue.  The  man  who 
expects  to  influence  m}^  mind,  or  win  my  support  by 
painting  my  death-bed,  or  playing  upon  the  chords 
that  bind  me  to  home  and  loved  ones  there,  will  only 
freeze  every  sentiment  of  generosity,  overthrow  my 
faith  in  his  own  virtue,  and  receive  all  the  contempt 
a  Christian  may  dare  to  cherish.  If  it  is  our  duty 
to  aid  a  work  of  philanthropy,  it  is  not  because  we 
love  or  are  beloved,  but  because  its  great  obligations 


Baccalaureate  Sermon.  189 

are  ordained  of  God,  and  enjoined  upon  the  sons  of 
men;  if  we  should  be  religious,  it  is  not  so  much 
because  we  must  die  as  that  it  is  our  duty  to  rever- 
ence, obey  and  love  God.  If  the  spirit  of  evil  is  ever 
broken  and  the  savage  yell  of  anti-Christ  silenced 
forever,  if  the  captivity  of  the  soul's  empire  is  to  be 
ransomed  and  the  redemption  of  the  world  fully 
effected,  they  will  never  be  accomplished  by  invok- 
ing the  aid  of  man's  low^est  principles,  and  using  the 
impulsive  agencies  of  an  hour;  but  by  hurling  against 
our  foe  the  great  shafts  of  almighty  truth,  and  bat- 
tering to  the  ground  the  ramparts  of  sin  with  force 
rather  than  beauty.  The  battles  of  the  world  are 
not  fought  with  epaulettes  and  the  dashing  uniform 
of  public  parade,  but  with  ball,  cannon  and  the  un- 
bending steel.  Nor  do  we  want  the  glitter  of  poetic 
display  when  the  fate  of  our  country,  our  religion, 
our  lives  and  our  homes  depends  upon  the  decision 
of  an  hour. 

'  *  But,  my  friends,  your  hour  of  preparation  is 
past;  the  College  bell  will  not  again  summon  you  to 
the  duties  of  the  day.  A  far  nobler  bell  sounds  across 
the  plain  of  life,  summoning  you  to  use  the  acquire- 
ments and  display  the  power  that  dwells  within  you. 

"Nature,  instinct,  social  ties,  and  the  God  you 
worship,  all  urge  you  to  seek  a  portion  of  this  world's 
goods,  that  with  hands  of  plenty  you  may  feed  sor- 
row's lonely  children,  give  a  mite  to  speed  the  mis- 
sionary, and  have  a  home  where  peace  and  plenty 


I  go  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

dwell.  Nature  and  grace  accord  the  possession  of 
wealth  to  man — God's  design  with  the  world  allows 
and  requires  it — but  all  that  is  profitable  must  pass 
the  inspection  and  approval  of  heaven.  Cunning, 
deceit,  and  plans  of  artifice  are  as  sinful  before  God 
and  as  hurtful  to  enduring  wealth  as  lying,  theft 
and  prodigalit}'.  The  golden  wedge  of  Achan  was 
not  mor^  ruinous  to  Israel's  host  than  will  be  an}^ 
dime  in  j^our  possession  obtained  by  fraud  or  unfair 
dealing.  Whatever  thing  is  obtained  against  open 
honesty  will  be  a  firebrand  in  the  treasury  of  wealth, 
and  a  lingering  curse  to  the  family  descendants  as 
long  as  an  iota  remains.  Have  a  care  how  you 
touch  wealth,  whether  by  inheritance,  wall  or  gift, 
if  that  wealth  was  unfairly  obtained;  like  the  Ark  of 
the  Lord  in  the  heathen  camp,  it  w^ill  be  your  ruin. 
Many  a  fortune  has  been  obtained  by  marriage  or 
otherwise  that,  like  the  cloak  of  Hercules,  burned 
the  receiver  to  death.  But  to  obtain  wealth,  enter 
into  some  noble  and  manly  work  ;  apply  your  hands 
to  implements  of  industry,  fix  your  eye  upon  God, 
your  Father,  and  fasten  your  faith  to  Jesus,  your 
Redeemer.  Disdain  all  arts  of  gain;  let  your  toil  be 
as  your  religion,  energetic,  steady,  ardent,  with  a 
burning,  powerful  intensity  that  aims  at,  seeks  and 
obtains  great  results. 

' '  Energetic  industry  is  as  essential  to  genuine  re- 
ligion as  brotherly  kindness,  and  the  piety  of  the 
inactive   and  lazy   may   always  be   questioned;  the 


BaccaIvAurkatk  Sermon.  191 

Spirit  of  the  Lord  wakes  the  soul  into  new  life  and 
with  it  every  power  and  function  of  the  bod}^  and 
most  assuredly  the  sluggard  is  as  far  from  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  as  he  who  w^ished  to  postpone  re- 
ligious considerations  till  a  more  convenient  season. 
"Again,  at  your  age  the  spirit  naturally  loves  the 
soaring  wing,  seeking  consideration,  power  and  dis- 
tinction ;  you  pant  for  knowledge  equal  to  the  de- 
mands of  an}^  hour,  for  mental  abilit}^  to  grasp  and 
comprehend  the  whole  superstructure  of  human  in- 
terest, and  for  a  richness  of  intellectual  finish  that 
may  be  the  glor}^  of  your  age  and  nation.  That  up- 
rising of  the  soul  is  a  sign  for  good,  and  without  it 
you  would  be  little  better  than  the  beasts  of  the  field. 
A  human  being  without  ambition  is  not  only  fallen 
but  decayed  ;  his  soul  is  a  drear}^  quagmire,  in  which 
the  Dove  of  Peace  can  find  no  resting  place ;  if  such 
a  man  acts  at  all  it  will  be  as  the  maniac,  dangerous 
to  himself  and  to  all  with  whom  he  is  associated. 
But  it  must  be  distinctly  remembered  that  ambition 
enough  to  procure  wealth  and  mental  distinction  is 
quite  sufiicient  to  ruin  the  soul,  unless  it  is  sanctified 
by  the  Spirit  of  God.  Human  capabilit}^  roused  to 
its  utmost  power,  blazing  with  the  combustibles  of 
worldly  competition  and  surging  before  the  winds  of 
am.bition,  is  destined  to  be  a  wreck  upon  the  coast  of 
despair,  unless  the  arm  of  the  Lord  holds  the  helm. 
But  if  3'ou  would  be  men  of  power — able  to  defend 
the  citadel  of  truth  and  read}'  to  aid  the  sorrowing 


192  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

children  of  earth — rouse  all  the  powers  of  nature,  be 
a  burning,  ardent  man;  but  fix  3'our  eye  upon  God. 
Let  conscience  stand  true  to  the  pole  of  justice,  let 
the  soul  receive  new  life  through  the  image  of  God, 
reflected  from  the  face  of  our  gracious  Redeemer  ;  do 
RIGHT  if  the  heavens  fall,  and  worship  the  Lord  in 
the  very  camp  of  mammon!  As  the  soul  brightens 
with  virtue,  the  mind  will  reach  forth  its  long  arms 
to  grasp  the  universe  of  thought,  and  as  the  affec- 
tions are  purified  by  religion  the  sympathies  will 
flow  in  perennial  streams. 

'  *  M}^  young  friends,  I  entreat  you  not  to  be  satis- 
fied with  a  mere  glance  at  the  image  and  perfections 
of  God.  Look  about  you  for  the  tokens  that  the 
Lord  still  walks  abroad  in  the  cool  of  the  da}',  trace 
the  gracious  works  of  His  hands  in  all  the  objects  of 
human  sense.  Sound  the  sea  of  his  love  in  the  book 
of  Revelation,  and  fan  the  kindlings  of  His  Spirit 
in  your  own  souls.  Cease  not  till  faith  is  a  living 
power  of  the  heart,  till  you  feel  the  blood  of  redemp- 
tion cleansing  the  centre  of  the  soul,  till  you  live  in 
daily  union  with  Christ  and  walk  with  God.  Reli- 
gion essentially  belongs  to  the  soul;  it  is  a  life  within 
our  natural  life — the  embrj^o  spirit  of  immortality 
transforming  this  tenement  of  clay.  To  j^ou  it  per- 
tains, in  no  small  extent,  to  exhibit  the  spirit  of 
sanctified  learning,  to  show  pure  examples  of  Chris- 
tian character,  to  confirm  correct  modes  of  social 
life,  and  to  display  correct  taste  in  connection  with 


Baccalaureate  Sermon.  193 

literary  ability.  In  this  respect,  too,  you  have  an 
unpopular,  a  difficult  work  ;  because  as  a  general 
thing,  at  this  day,  learning  and  social  cultivation 
move  insiduously,  cautiously,  but  directly  against 
vital  godliness.  The  ver^'^  powers  that  should  stand 
as  a  wall  of  fire  around  piety  have  betrayed  the  trust, 
and  are  worse  than  traitors  in  the  camp  of  the  Lord. 
Whatever  is  able  to  establish  the  badge  of  respecta- 
bility, to  fix  the  taste  of  communities  and  give  tone 
to  society  is  accountable,  tremendously,  to  God  and 
man  for  its  moral  influence.  Nothing  is  now  more 
popular  with  the  cultivated  than  a  fashionable,  sen- 
timental, semi-poetic  moonlight  religion.  Beauty 
and  finish  in  sermons,  action  and  grace  in  the 
preacher  and  a  gentility  in  the  world's  manner  in  all 
the  exersises  of  God's  house.  There  is  in  this  spe- 
cies of  piety  and  its  followers,  quite  a  sufficiency  of 
human  accomplishments.  Hymns  are  read  with  theat- 
rical manner  and  cadence,  the  singing  has  the  tone 
and  finish  of  parlors  and  concerts,  the  prayers  elo- 
quent and  sometimes  witty,  the  reading  of  the  Bible 
has  the  lisping  accent  of  high  life,  and  the  whole 
sermon  is  contrived  to  please  the  ear  and  captivate 
the  fancy.  The  creed  of  this  piety  is  propriet}-  of 
conduct  as  to  worldly  ends,  taste  as  to  fashion  and 
appearance,  decorum  as  to  good  manners,  and  per- 
fection as  to  standing  and  social  rank.  Such  reli- 
gion ma}'  satisfy  the  demands  of  life,  but  will  be 
worthless  in  the  hour  of  death.     Where  there  is  no 


194  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

deeper,  nobler  spirit  there  will  of  necessity'  be  hypoc- 
risy, vanity,  mean  inveterate  malice,  and  every  other 
vice,  rich  in  the  drapery  of  form  perhaps,  but  in  very 
truth  dark  as  the  Stygian  pool.  Young  gentlemen, 
I  warn  j^ou  against  the  damnable  vices  of  what  is 
blasphemously  called  high  life.  You  maj^  imagine 
that  where  talent,  cultivation,  politeness  and  elegance 
abound,  sin  and  shame  do  not  exist.  But  I  assure 
you  the}^  exist  in  all  places  where  the  love  of  God  is 
not  found-  and  though  the}^  are  odious  in  the  uncul- 
tivated who  have  not  the  tact  nor  hypocrisy  to  con- 
ceal them,  they  are  much  more  satanic  in  the  pol- 
ished, who  sin  by  calculation  and  conceal  it  by 
stratagem.  The  unreligious  cultivated  man  is  a 
fearful  risk  in  any  community,  and  the  formalist  is 
tenfold  worse  than  the  open  sinner. 

"  It  is  a  fatal  error  that  secret  sins  are  less  perni- 
cious than  those  that  are  boldly  committed;  it  is 
equally  ruinous  to  suppose  that  refinement  in  the 
mode  of  transgression  lessens  the  guilt  of  the  action, 
or  that  station,  however  exalted,  gives  any  moral 
exemptions.  No  sin  ever  has  or  will  be  committed 
that  will  not  ultimately  become  known,  and  if  you 
are  wise  you  will  never  do  anything  that  you  would 
be  ashamed  or  afraid  for  the  world  to  know.  I  have 
just  as  much  confidence  in  one  sinner  as  another,  for 
human  nature,  fallen  as  it  is,  will  not  betray  nor 
falter  without  consideration  or  inducement,  and  when 
real  temptations  come,  humanit}^,  unaided  by  grace, 


Baccalaurkatk  Sermon.  195 

falls  before  them  like  straws  before  a  whirlwind. 
Pride  of  character,  social  position  and  mental  power 
cannot  supply  the  place  of  the  Lamb  of  God,  and 
whoever  relies  upon  them  in  their  natural  state  relies 
upon  a  broken  reed.  I  have  dwelt  the  more  on  this 
subject,  because  to  its  influence  3^ou  are  or  will  be 
greatly  exposed,  and  through  its  baleful  fires  you 
will  hardly  pass  unscathed. 

"Another  consideration,  worthy  your  closest  at- 
tention at  the  outset  of  life,  is  the  influence  of  your 
example  generally,  and  the  fearful  responsibility 
resting  upon  you  in  that  relation.  The  world  is  one 
great  head  of  thought  and  heart  of  feeling,  eminently 
impressive  by  ever}^  circumstance  of  life,  deeph'  in- 
terested in  all  that  belongs  to  our  common  nature, 
and  touched  by  every  sensation  that  thrills  any  part 
of  the  great  organization.  Not  only  our  acts  and 
words  mould  with  irresistible  force  the  spirits  of  the 
young  around  us,  but  our  unspoken  thoughts,  as 
they  stamp  their  impress  upon  the  countenance  and 
form  the  action,  seal  their  likeness  upon  the  circle  of 
our  acquaintance,  and  send  forth  a  transforming 
influence  over  whole  communities.  Examples  of 
dead  centuries  are  yet  alive,  action  and  thought  never 
die,  but  are  as  immortal  as  man  himself.  Ponder 
well  before  j^ou  make  a  mark  upon  the  scroll  of  time, 
for  it  will  be  examined  by  the  light  of  eternity,  and 
its  results  noted  to  the  latest  generation.  For  several 
years  you  have   been  recording  a  responsibility  of 


196  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

infinite  consequence  in  this  institution.  As  a  class 
you  have  had  j^our  individual  peculiarities  and  3'our 
collective  standing.  You  have  added  a  large  quota 
to  the  grade  and  standing  of  the  college.  You  have 
affected  the  mind  and  heart  of  ever}^  student,  and 
sent  forth  influences  in  a  widening  circle  over  many 
States;  you  have  contributed  to  the  character  and 
manners  of  the  community,  and  will  leave  influences 
to  work  for  good  or  evil  when  the  grass  is  green  over 
your  graves.  Herein,  too,  the  community  is  charged 
with  a  fearful  reckoning  at  the  bar  of  God.  A  large 
stream  of  humanity  flows  through  our  midst,  and 
God  holds  us  accountable  for  the  character  it  bears 
away.  If  we  exhibit  individuall}'  and  collectively 
all  that  is  pure,  noble  and  virtuous,  we  are  laying  up 
treasure  in  heaven;  if  we  display  vanit}',  evil  dispo- 
sitions and  a  spirit  contrary  to  genuine  Christianity', 
the  wrath  of  an  offended  God  will  thunder  against 
us,  and  His  power  will  consume  us. 

* '  The  positions  you  now  choose  in  life  demand 
your  services,  your  prayerful  attention.  Many,  very 
man}^  considerations  will  rise  up  and  demand  to  be 
heard,  many  roads  open  before  you,  but  to  deter- 
mine in  which  your  true  interest  lies  is  a  matter  of 
infinite  difficulty. 

"  We  should,  with  candor  and  fairness,  remember 
the  case  of  Jonah  ;  he  had  not  sinned  against  the 
sailors,  and  yet  both  boat  and  crew  were  doomed  to 
destruction  unless  he  should  be  cast  overboard .   There 


Baccalaureate  Sermon.  197 

is  a  fitness  for  all  things  and  a  proper  sphere  for  each, 
and  all  combinations  contrary  to  the  will  of  heaven 
will,  like  Babel's  tower,  meet  confusion  and  disaster. 
You  have,  perhaps,  seen  two  students,  both  of  excel- 
lent character  and  disposition,  but  their  association 
together  was  the  ruin  of  both.  So  it  is  in  the  affairs 
of  life,  both  physical  and  moral,  and  in  this  respect 
God  marks  our  steps  with  searching  eye,  and  woe 
to  that  man  that  does  not  ponder  his  ways.  Though 
you  may  be  holy  as  Paul  when  he  denied  himself  for 
his  brethren's  sake,  if  you  perceive  that  you  are  the 
occasion  of  harm  to  others,  God  requires  you  to 
remove  from  that  connection,  and  you  will  disobey 
Him  at  your  peril.  If  others  are  a  stumbling-block 
to  you,  the  connection  must  be  severed,  though  a  right 
hand  or  eye  be  removed,  or  father  or  mother  forsaken. 
' '  Foster  has  beautifully  said  that  God  intended 
every  man  for  the  hero  of  a  special  work,  that  the 
province  of  each  is  distinct  from  another,  and  all 
heaven-intended  arrangements  are  harmonious  as  the 
spheres ;  that  Christian's  God  dwells  not  in  discord. 
You  have  a  spirit  unlike  your  brother,  yet  for  your 
brother's  good  you  can  do  a  great  work  that  none 
other  can;  but  where  that  work  is  you  may  not  know. 
You  must  be  bound  to  earth  by  duty  and  to  heaven 
by  love,  but  the  field  of  that  duty  may  be  in  heath- 
enism, Christendom,  or  altogether  unmarked  at  all. 
One  thing  is  certain,  you  were  not  created  either  to 
amuse  yourselves  or  others,  nor  does  your  Father  in 


198  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

heaven  permit  you  to  choose  your  work.  In  every 
man,  cultivated  or  rude,  abides  an  undying  incHna- 
tion  which  is  the  voice  of  God  proclaiming  your 
mission.  If  you  gird  yourself  in  the  bonds  of  strength 
and  move  at  this  divine  bidding,  the  arm  of  Jehovah 
will  be  around  you,  Jesus  will  watch  3'ou  from  the 
mercy  seat,  angels  shall  be  3'our  ministers  and  arch- 
angels 3^our  guardians. 

' '  Sectional  ties,  inclinations  of  habit  and  family 
considerations  maybe  good  politics  or  passable  poetry, 
but  they  are  poor  divinity.  These  things  are  of  no 
avail  in  the  Book  of  Destiny.  You  were  not  placed 
upon  this  green  earth  to  fan  the  flame  of  State  pride, 
indulge  the  fantastic  notions  of  artificial  life,  labor 
on  the  edifice  of  family  ascendanc}^  nor  even  to  wor- 
ship at  the  shrine  of  domestic  affection ;  3^ou  must 
labor  for  man  in  the  fear  and  love  of  God.  Do  you 
feel  or  hear  or  perceive  some  great,  still  voice  in 
your  inmost  soul  saying,  go  to  this  or  that  work? 
Obey  that  voice  at  the  risk  of  your  life.  When  you 
have  hushed  it,  for  the  time,  does  it  come  drumming 
in  your  ears  again  in  the  still  hour  of  contemplation 
or  the  quiet  hours  of  the  night  season?  You  must 
obey  that  voice,  or  3^ou  are  a  ruined  man.  But  3'ou 
think  God  does  not  call  men  to  anything  but  the 
ministr3\  Be  assured  the  Lord  calls  all  men  to  all 
work,  and  appoints  them  to  good,  successful  and 
honorable  pursuits,  would  they  but  hear  His  voice. 


Baccalaurkatk  Sermon.     .  199 

''  Much  of  the  world's  miser}^  poverty  and  shame 
arises  from  wrong  pursuits;  much  of  the  ridiculous 
folly  and  fantastic  vanity  of  every  day's  occurrence 
is  but  the  surging  of  souls  capable  of  great  things, 
but  have  missed  the  orbit  of  life.  Talented  men  fail 
by  the  thousand,  because  God  is  angry  at  their  dis- 
obedience, and  the  same  wise  Providence  sends  mis- 
fortune thick  and  fast  upon  others,  often  to  teach 
them  that  a  change  of  life,  or  ruin,  is  their  destiny. 
Look  steadily  upon  the  great  transforming  image  of 
God's  perfections,  let  the  soul  drink  deeply  from  the 
great  fountain  of  life,  and  make  the  entire  business 
of  this  world  one  continued  preparation  for  the  next. 
Expect  not  that  life's  beaten  way  will  wind  through 
flowery  fields  and  by  pleasant  streams.  Look  not 
for  smiling  abodes  to  rise  up  conveniently  to  shelter 
you  from  the  storm,  and  to  protect  you  at  night. 
Expect  not  that  smiling  faces  will  welcome  you  in 
the  far-off  days  of  mature  manhood.  The  halo  of 
youthful  attractions  will  soon  pass  from  your  heads, 
the  novelty  of  a  new  operator  in  this  vast  world  of 
effort  will  soon  pass  away,  the  last  note  of  morning 
will  die  upon  the  breeze,  the  last  dew-drop  will 
exhale  from  the  flowers,  and  clouds  of  dust  will 
darken  all  the  landscape.  Friends  will  forsake  you, 
enemies  rise  up  in  thick  squadrons,  and  the  cold,  icy 
hand  of  this  world  will  rest  upon  you  with  crushing 
weight.  Your  soul  may  be  in  agony  and  the  world 
will  laugh;  your  heart-strings  may  break  and  your 


200      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

quondam  friends  will  wag  their  heads.  God  grant 
that  3'ou  fail  not  in  that  dreadful  hour!  The  world, 
in  foil}'  or  malice,  often  drives  noble  men  to  the  very 
verge  of  ruin.  It  is  no  small  matter  to  see  the  effort 
of  your  lives  mouldering  down;  to  see  your  name 
going  out  in  gloom,  and  all  for  which  you  have 
labored  and  all  that  you  have  loved  lying  in  ruins 
around  you.  It  is  an  awful  trial  for  any  man.  Such 
tornadoes  may  devastate  the  kingdom  of  the  soul  in 
an  hour,  lay  low  the  mightiest  structures  of  virtue, 
and  turn  man  from  a  saint  into  a  demon. 

' '  The  loss  of  friends  and  the  rending  of  earthly 
ties  may  pain  the  soul  and  make  life  bitter,  but  man 
can  bear  them — they  come  from  God — and  we  bow  in 
submission;  but  the  trials  I  have  just  mentioned  are 
the  hardest  mortality  can  ever  meet.  May  the  Lord 
spare  you  the  terrible  test;  or  if  it  must  come,  may 
His  everlasting  arm  be  around  you.  You  now  have 
friends,  but  they  may  pass  away;  that  commingling 
of  souls  that  now  beguiles  the  passing  hour  may 
become  a  stranger  to  your  heart.  The  day  may 
come  when  you  would  give  worlds  for  one,  just  one, 
to  love  you  like  a  brother;  when  your  soul  reaches 
out  the  tendrils  of  affection  only  to  be  frozen  to  death ; 
when  your  warm  inquiring,  eye  sees  nothing  but  the 
curled  lip  of  disdain;  when  your  great  throbbing 
heart  beats  in  a  vacuum. 

It  is  so  sad,  so  bitter,  so  torturing  to  a  man  of  a 
great  loving  heart,  one  that  would  embrace  the  world 


BACCAI.AURBATE   SBRMON.  20I 

in  his  arms  of  affection,  to  find  himself  in  a  vast 
desert  where  none  will  call  him  friend  or  brother. 
Many  a  man  at  such  an  hour  has  learned  to  curse 
God  and  hate  the  world — and  our  only  resource  is  in 
religion.  In  all  your  ways,  let  me  entreat  you  to 
remember  the  orphan  by  da^^  and  by  night ;  his  is  a 
hard,  Oh!  it  is  a  bitter  lot.  There  is  much  more 
poetry  than  truth  in  the  world's  pretended  kindness 
to  the  poor,  sorrowful-faced  little  boy  that  has  no 
mother  to  love  him  and  no  father  to  protect  him.  He 
is  sorely  oppressed  in  his  bo3^hood.  He  may  dig  him- 
self a  home  in  the  mountain  granite,  but  orphan 
haunts  him  like  a  midnight  ghost.  In  his  manhood 
the  lingering  curse  of  his  sad  condition  rests  upon 
him — this  world  has  no  cavern  to  hide  him  from  the 
opposition.  I  have  seen  his  tears  flow  as  if  the  foun- 
tains of  his  soul  were  broken  up.  I  have  seen  him 
bow  before  God  and  ask  for  love  to  bind  up  his 
broken  heart,  and  I  have  seen  the  cold  combinations 
of  this  world  grind  him  to  powder.  Always,  my 
young  friends,  have  a  kind  word  for  him,  and  treat 
him  as  a  brother. 

'  *  In  all  things  and  in  all  places  remember  gene- 
rosity; let  it  flow  in  living  streams  from  your  heart, 
let  it  water  every  desert  and  send  gladness  to  the 
farthest  limit. 

"This,  to  you,  is  my  last  sermon,  possibly  my  last 
words  of  advice.  I  have  transcribed  much  of  my 
own  experience — an  experience  that  has  burnt  itself 


202  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

into  soul.  Four  3^ears  have  I  preached  and  talked 
to  you.  If  I  have  made  any  wrong  impressions, 
may  God  forgive  me  and  prevent  any  evil.  You 
have  seen  me  tempted  and  tried,  weighed  down  with 
anxiety  and  buo3'ant  with  hope,  for  my  life  has  been 
checked  with  bitter  hours  that  I  would  not  live  it 
over  again.  I  have  loved  you  like  brothers.  I  have 
prayed  with  3'OU  as  a  Christian.  A  few  days  and 
our  next  meeting  will  be  at  the  judgment  seat.  Let 
us,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  live  and  die  Christians. 
Let  us  put  on  the  whole  armor  of  Christ  and  be 
read}^  to  stand  in  the  evil  day.  When  the  hour  of 
sorrow  comes  we  will  brush  away  our  tears  and  think 
of  heaven,  and  when  death  comes  we  will  enter 
boldly  into  the  wa}^  opened  up  by  our  great  High 
Priest,  who  brought  light  and  immortalit}^  to  light 
by  the  Gospel." 


Southern  Civilization.  20- 


CHAPTER  V. 

CIVILIZATION  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  STATES— WHAT  IT 
IS  AND  CAN  BE.     1860. 

The  essay  begins  with  a  discussion  of  Guizot's 
definition  of  civilization: 

"The  real  power  of  ever}^  man  is  what  he  is,  not 
what  he  knows.  ^  ^'  The  young  lawyer  arms 
himself  with  the  memorized  essentials  of  Blackstone, 
gets  an  index  of  the  reports,  and  polishes  the  whole 
with  cigar  ability  and  a  glorious  swagger,  and  then 
presumes  to  call  himself  a  lawyer,  dreaming  of 
mighty  fees  and  perhaps  the  ermine.  But  the  ques- 
tion is  not  how  much  law  he  has  read,  but  how 
much  he  has  eat,  digested  and  assimilated.  ""  ^• 
The  same  may  be  said  of  all  other  professions  and 
pursuits.  Whoever  has  become  the  personation  of 
any  department  in  life  will  work  in  that  and  will 
succeed.  It  is  sheer  nonsense  to  talk  about  making 
bank  clerks,  tape-clerks,  doctors  or  dandies.  The 
youth  will  sail  by  the  chart  of  his  civilization,  the 
real  in  him  will  beat  the  assumed  in  the  long  race, 
in  spite  of  all  tricks  and  odds.  Whatever  he  has 
grown  into  he  can  and  will  do,  whether  it  is  making 
laws  or  sherr}'  cobblers,  defending  his  countr}^  or 
his  morning  nap,  cultivating  corn  or  a  mustache. 
And  this  thing  he  will  do  with  '  no  blundering,  no 


204  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

indecision,  no  uncertainty,  but  a  straightforward, 
decisive  activity,  sure  as  insight  and  rapid  as  in- 
stinct.' In  this  you  cannot  impose  upon  him  by 
any  bedizzened  eloquence,  specious  logic  or  ruse 
de  guerre.  He  will  penetrate  all  your  designs,  detect 
your  false  lights,  and  entangle  you  in  your  own 
snares.  In  his  appropriate  work  man  never  tires, 
he  never  yawns  over  himself,  but  with  stupendous 
persistenc}'  moves  right  on  to  the  goal.  Nobody 
could  keep  John  Brown  from  being  hung.  He  grew 
up  for  a  halter  and  will  have  it.  If  he  cannot  find 
it  in  Kansas,  he  will  at  Harper's  Ferr3^  No  power 
could  arrest  Luther,  Franklin  or  Washington;  Ful- 
ton will  make  steamboats,  and  Jackson  will  be  mas- 
ter alike  in  New  Orleans  and  Washington.  But 
whence  comes  this  working  activity',  this  resivStless 
capacity,  this  power  to  do,  what  none,  not  even  the 
owner,  can  hinder?  Is  it  a  gift  of  God,  a  commis- 
sion made  out,  signed,  sealed  and  sent  to  be  exe- 
cuted by  the  human  machine,  without  let  or  hin- 
drance? No,  verily,  it  is  not  at  all  of  this  kind! 
God  has  made  worlds,  animals  and  insects,  but  there 
is  no  record  theological,  geological  or  historical  that 
He  ever  made  a  lawyer,  doctor  or  mechanic. ' ' 

Speaking  of  the  literary  culture  of  the  times,  he 
says:  "Many  read  Milton  for  the  reputation  of  the 
act  and  memorize  the  names  of  Shakespeare's  char- 
acters because  they  sound  well  in  conversation,  but 
few  read  them  with  fascination  or  pleasure. ' ' 


Southern  Civilization.  205 

"The  influential  literature  of  the  South  is  poor 
and  poisonous.  It  consists  chiefly  of  novels,  moon- 
struck poetr}'  and  newspaper  intelligence.  A  few- 
reviews  are  in  some  favor,  but  even  they  are  not 
above  mediocrity.  The  latest  pet  in  the  fashionable 
Belle  Lettre  circle  is  the  Eclectic,  a  thing  altogether 
too  fragmentary  for  the  true  scholar,  and  too  philo- 
sophic for  the  general  reader ;  too  imaginative  for 
the  intellect,  and  too  cold  for  the  heart.  It  is  among 
serials  a  genteel  sharper,  puffed  by  the  papers,  quoted 
by  sophomores,  admitted  to  good  society,  and  has 
made  a  fortune  for  its  publisher.  As  to  novels,  the}- 
have  been  stigmatized  till  their  votaries,  with  true 
burglar  instinct,  cr}^  fire  as  lustily  as  anybody-.  It 
may  sufiice  to  say  that  habitual  readers  show  their 
authors  as  plainly  as  children  their  parents.  So 
that  on  the  street  or  in  the  drawing  room  you  will 
not  fail  to  meet  sons  and  daughters  of  Eugene  Sue, 

Bulwer,  Byron,  and  Fanny  Fern. 

■5«-  -Sf  *  ^  ^  * 

"With  such  education  and  development,  it  is  not 
at  all  strange  that  Northern  papers  should  be  sup- 
ported and  Southern  papers  left  to  starve.  We  are 
told  that  the  Times  does  not  equal  the  Eveni7ig  Post 
or  Harper' s  Weekly,  and  that  the  Patriot  is  vastly  in- 
ferior to  the  Herald.  We  might  reply  that  potatoes 
are  not  so  pungent  as  garlic,  nor  purple  so  brilliant 
as  scarlet,  but  that  does  not  prove  that  garlic  and 
scarlet  ought  to  be  acceptable  to  an^-body  but  Mexi- 
cans and  Arabs. 


2o6  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

' '  One  of  the  first  steps  necessar}-  in  the  progress 
of  self- development  will  be  to  throw  aside  forever  the 
over-active,  contradictor}-,  incomprehensible  man- 
ners now  prevalent.  We  have  no  social  scale  at  all. 
We  never  know  when  to  remove  our  hat  or  wear  our 
gloves;  for  one  family  attempts  the  manners  of  the 
old  French  noblesse,  another  that  of  the  English 
baron;  one  affects  .the  affability  of  the  Frenchman, 
another  the  stately  hauteur  of  the  Castilian;  one 
hour  we  meet  the  rough  kindness  of  the  Scotchman, 
and  the  next  the  nice  etiquette  of  a  Pasha.  These, 
however,  are  all  book  manners,  parts  learned  and 
practiced  for  regular  exhibition.  With  these  we  are 
civil  without  being  civilized.  All  this  must  be  dis- 
carded. If  we  ever  reach  a  civilization  of  our  own 
one  great  tone  of  being  must  pervade  all  hearts,  one 
t3'pe  of  manners  belong  to  all  communities,  etc. 

' '  What  then  is  our  grade  and  force  of  civilization ; 
how  much  real  life  have  we;  how  much  real  human- 
ity is  in  us  ?  We  vShall  not  find  the  answer  to  these 
questions  in  our  newspapers,  our  orations,  or  in  our 
so-called  Southern  books.  For,  saving  always  the 
present  company,  no  people  ever  surpassed  the  South 
in  braggadocio,  fustian,  and  yarns  generally.  Ac- 
cording to  our  own  showing  we  are  surpassingly 
brave — we  are  eager  to  chastise  all  the  North  and 
half  of  Europe.  No  doubt  we  have  some  braver}^ 
but  after  the  labored  research  of  Governor  Swain 
and  the  zealous  efforts  of  Dr.  Caruthers,  nothing  bet- 


Southern  Civilization.  207 

ter  than  a  decent  excuse  could  be  found  for  the  Car- 
olinians' running  away  from  the  Battle  of  Guilford; 
and  in  spite  of  Fort  Maultrie,  Eutaw,  and  Kings 
Mountain,  the  fall  of  Charleston,  and  the  Battle  of 
Camden  have  always  furnished  an  unpleasant  remi- 
niscence. 

'  *  Then  here  is  an  Amen  to  the  prayer  for  a  South- 
ern civilization;  for  a  new  t3^pe  of  existence,  a  new 
bloom  upon  the  tree  of  life.  New  thoughts,  cus- 
toms, and  modes  are  possible — richer  and  holier  than 
anything  in  past.  There  are  poems  among  our  hills, 
woods,  and  streams  that  have  never  been  wrought 
into  stanzas;  grand  epics  linger  around  the  graves 
of  the  Indian,  waiting  for  the  harp  of  an  American 
Homer;  new  forms  and  powers  of  eloquence  are 
ready  to  light  up  and  electrify  great  deliberating  or 
worshiping  assemblies,  and  new^  schools  of  painting 
and  sculpture  may  yet  adorn  our  land  and  immor- 
talize our  name.  We  must  be  superior  to  all  that 
has  been  or  be  a  Fata  Morgana,  to  pass  away  before 
high  noon  in  American  glory." 


APPENDIX. 


NAOMI  WISE; 

OR, 

The  Wrongs  of  a  Beautiful  Girl 

(A   TRUK   STORY.) 


CHAPTER   I. 

About  eighty  years  ago  there  Uved  where  Salem 
now  is,  in  the  northern  part  of  Randolph  County, 
North  Carolina,  a  very  open  and  warm-hearted  gen- 
tleman by  the  name  of  William  Adams.  A  few 
families  of  nature's  noblest  qualitj^  lived  in  the  vicin- 
ity. They  were  not  emphatically  rich,  but  were 
what  our  people  csdled good  livers ;  they  were  honest, 
hospitable  and  kind  ;  they  knew  neither  the  luxuries 
nor  vices  of  high  life.  Their  farms  supplied  enough 
for  their  own  tables,  and  surplus  sufficient  for  a  brisk 
trade  with  Fayetteville.  The  wild  forest  hills  and 
immense  glades  in  the  neighborhood  afforded  boun- 
tiful quantities  of  game;  whilst  Deep  River  abounded 
with  the  finest  fish.  At  that  time  the  inhabitants 
were  by  no  means  so  thickly  settled  as  at  present; 
tradmg  as  a  regular  business  was  unknown,  except 
to  a  few  merchants.  The  people  were  somewhat 
rude;  still,  however,  hospitable  and  kind. 


212  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

At  William  Adam's  lived  Naomi  Wise.  She  had 
early  been  thrown  upon  the  cold  charit}-  of  the  world, 
and  she  had  received  the  frozen  crumbs  of  that 
charity.  Her  size  was  medium;  her  figure  beauti- 
fully formed;  her  face  handsome  and  expressive; 
her  eye  keen  3^et  mild;  her  words  soft  and  winning. 
She  was  left  without  father  to  protect,  mother  to 
counsel,  brothers  and  sisters  to  love,  or  friends  with 
whom  to  associate.  Food,  clothing  and  shelter  must 
be  earned  by  the  labor  of  her  own  hands,  not  such 
labor,  however,  as  females  at  this  da}'  perform. 
There  was  no  place  for  her  but  the  kitchen,  with  the 
prospect  of  occasionally  going  into  the  field.  This 
the  poor  orphan  accepted  willingly;  she  was  willing 
to  labor,  she  was  ashamed  to  beg.  The  thousand 
comforts  that  parents  can  find  for  their  children  are 
never  enjoyed  b}^  the  fatherless.  Fanaticism  may 
rave  over  the  chains  of  the  African;  the  pit}^  of  vsix- 
teen  States  can  be  poured  out  for  the  Southern  negro ; 
great  meetings  are  held  to  move  on  emancipation, 
but  who  pities  the  Orp/ia?i  f  May  the  Lord  pity  him, 
for  man  will  not. 

At  the  time  of  which  we  speak,  neighborhoods 
w^ere  nearly  distinct;  all  that  lived  in  the  same  vicin- 
ity, generally  bearing  the  same  name.  To  account 
for  this,  we  have  only  to  recollect  that  most  of  our 
vSettlers  migrated  from  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia; 
and  that  families  generally  came  and  settled  together. 
Physical  force  being  frequently  necessary  for  self- 


Appendix.  213 

defence,  such  families  made  a  kind  of  treaty  offensive 
and  defensive.  Sometimes,  however,  the  most  deadly 
feuds  broke  out  among  themselves.  Such  was  the 
case  with  the  Lewis  family,  that  settled  on  Sandy 
Creek.  Old  David  Lewis  probably  came  from  Penn- 
S5dvania;  at  least  an  old  gentleman  by  name  of  Bu- 
chanan told  the  writer  so;  Buchanan  w^as  personally 
acquainted  with  the  Lewises.  David  had  a  consid- 
erable family  of  bo3'S,  all  of  whom  were  noted  for  their 
great  size  and  strength.  This  was  in  ever}'-  respect 
a  very  peculiar  famih%  peculiar  in  appearance,  in 
character,  and  in  destiny.  The  Lewises  were  tall, 
broad,  muscular  and  very  powerful  men.  In  the 
manner  of  fighting,  very  common  at  that  time,  viz. : 
to  lay  aside  all  clothing  but  pantaloons,  and  then  try 
for  victory  by  striking  with  the  fist,  scratching, 
gouging,  and  biting,  a  Lewis  was  not  to  be  van- 
quished. The  family  were  the  lions  of  the  country. 
Their  character  w^as  eminently  pugnacious.  Nearly 
all  of  them  drank  to  intoxication;  aware  of  powder, 
they  insulted  whom  they  listed;  they  sought  occasions 
of  quarrel  as  a  Yankee  does  gold  dust  in  California. 
They  rode  through  plantations;  killed  their  neigh- 
bor's cattle;  took  fish  from  other  men's  traps;  said 
what  they  pleased;  all  more  for  contention  than  gain. 
Though  the  oppressed  had  the  power,  they  were 
afraid  to  prosecute  them;  they  knew  these  human 
hydras  had  no  mercy ;  they  dreaded  their  retaliating 
vengeance.     For  these  men  w^ould  follow  their  child- 


2  14      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

dren  while  at  work,  and  whip  them  from  one  side  of 
the  field  to  the  other.  The}^  would  compel  them  to 
stand  in  the  3^ard  during  cold  rainy  nights  till  the 
little  creatures  were  frozen  beyond  the  power  of 
speech;  and  sometimes  their  wives  shared  no  better 
fate.  A  fine  colt  belonging  to  Stephen  Lewis  once 
did  some  trifling  mischief ,  when  the  owner,  enraged, 
shot  it  dead  upon  the  instant.  An^^thing,  man  or 
beast,  that  dared  to  cross  them,  periled  its  life.  They 
neither  sheltered  themselves  under  the  strong  arm  of 
law,  nor  permitted  others  to  do  so;  they  neither  gave 
nor  asked  merc}'.  Yet  these  same  men  were  unfail- 
ing friends,  when  they  chose  to  protect.  Their 
pledge  was  sure  as  anything  human  could  be;  if  the}- 
threatened  death  or  torture,  those  threatened  always 
thought  it  prudent  to  retire  to  the  very  uttermost 
part  of  the  earth;  if  they  vowed  protection,  their 
protege  felt  secure.  Some  of  their  remote  relations 
are  still  in  this  country;  the}'  are  among  our  most 
worthy  citizens,  but  they  never  tamelj^  submit  to 
insult.  Some  inquire  how  such  men  as  the  Lewises 
could  ever  intermarry  with  other  families?  who 
would  unite  themselves  to  such  cold-hearted  crea- 
tures ? 

While  such  characters  are,  in  some  respects,  to  be 
abhorred,  3'et  there  is  about  them  that  has  in  all  ages 
been  attractive.  Ladies  are  accused,  because  they 
fall  in  love  with  fops,  of  wanting  common  sense,  and 
of  loving  vanit}'  rather  than  substance.     The  accu- 


Appendix.  215 

sation  is  false.  Except  the  love  of  a  Christian  for 
his  Lord,  the  love  of  a  woman  vs^Wio.  purest  and  truest 
thing  on  earth;  sweet  as  the  incense  of  heaven,  soft 
as  the  air  of  paradise,  and  confiding  as  the  lamb;  it 
scorns  the  little,  the  vile  and  the  treacherous.  The 
tendrils  of  woman's  affection  despise  the  shrubs  of 
odor  and  beauty,  but  entwine  closely  and  eternally 
around  high  forest  trees  that  are  exposed  to  howling 
storms  and  the  thunders  of  Jove.  The  trees  may  be 
rough  and  crooked,  but  then  they  are  trees.  Find  a 
man,  a  great  intellectual  power,  of  iron  will,  of  reck- 
less daring,  but  of  unshaken  fidelity;  in  such  you 
find  a  master  magnet  around  which  women's  hearts 
collect  by  natural  attraction.  But  how  can  a  pure 
and  good  woman  love  a  wicked  man?  Nonsense, 
thou  puritan!  She  does  not  love  his  wickedness,  but 
his  soul.  Did  not  the  Saviour  love  a  wicked  world, 
though  he  died  to  destroy  its  wickedness  ?  Then  a 
woman  will  love  a  wicked  man  better  than  a  good 
one,  will  she  ?  No,  she  will  love  a  good  man  much 
best,  other  things  being  equal.  But  you  make 
daring  deeds  of  wickedness  the  exponent  of  man's 
greatness.  I  do  no  such  thing.  I  make  actions  that 
require  power,  energ}^,  and  firmness,  test  of  great- 
ness; that  such  actions  should  be  tainted  with  evil 
is  a  blot  that  mars  them  in  no  small  degree;  but  still 
they  are  great  actions,  i.  e.,  the  products  of  power- 
ful minds.  There  are  certain  philosophers  in  the 
world  that  would  make  all  great  actions  cease  to  be 


2i6      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

great  when  they  ceased  to  be  good;  they  would 
measure  their  greatness  directly  as  their  goodness. 
These  are  evidently  two  different  qualities,  the  one 
measuring  the  action  per  se,  the  other  its  moral  char- 
acter. Genuine  love  is  as  follows:  woman  loves  the 
power  which  is  able  to  support  and  protect,  and  if 
that  power  be  good  she  will  love  it  the  more.  Man 
loves  the  gentle  confiding  one  that  leans  upon  him 
with  confidence  and  trusts  him  with  her  destiny;  if 
she  be  good,  he  will  love  her  the  more.  This  may 
be  grossly  misconstrued;  h\x\.  fools  ivill  not  see,  and 
the  wise  can  see  our  meaning.  It  is,  therefore,  plain 
enough. 

We  will  hazard  an  axiom  or  two  while  on  this 
point.  No  woman  will  or  can  really  love  a  man  who 
is  intellectually  her  inferior.  No  man  can  love  a 
woman  that  has  not  confidence  in  his  fidelity  and 
protection.  If  a  powerful  man  be  true  to  his  wife, 
she  being  what  she  should,  she  will  love  him  though 
he  stain  his  hands  in  blood,  and  be  guilty  of  the 
foulest  deeds  known  in  the  catalogue  of  crime.  But 
this  is  an  unpardonable  digression;  let  us  return. 

But  few  of  the  Lewises  died  natural  deaths.  Ste-  \ 
phen  Lewis  was  most  unmerciful  to  his  wife.  He 
frequently  whipped  her  with  hobblerods,  and  other- 
wise abused  her  beyond  endurance.  Finally,  by  aid 
of  Richard,  a  brother  of  Stephen's,  she  escaped  from 
home  and  spent  several  months  at  an  acquaintance's. 
Richard  at  length  told  Stephen  that  his  wife  would 


Appkndix.  217 

return,  if  he  would  promise  never  more  to  abuse  her. 
This  he  promised  upon  the  word  of  a  lyewis.  He 
therefore  told  him  to  come  to  his  house  on  a  certain 
daj',  and  he  would  find  her.  At  the  time  appointed 
Stephen  went,  and  found  his  wife  and  took  her  on 
his  horse  to  convey  her  home.  On  the  way  he  made 
her  tell  the  means  of  her  escape  and  the  agents  em- 
ployed. The  agent,  as  we  have  said,  was  his  brother 
Richard.  Stephen  went  home  ;  kindl}^  told  his  wife 
that  he  should  henceforth  treat  her  very  kindly,  but 
that  he  intended  to  shoot  the  scoundrel,  Richard. 
Loading  his  gun,  he  immediately  returned  to  his 
brother's.  Richard,  happening  to  observe  his  ap- 
proach and  conjecturing  the  object,  fled  upstairs 
with  his  gun.  Stephen  entered  the  house  and  en- 
quired for  Richard.  Not  learning  from  the  family, 
and  supposing  him  upstairs,  he  started  up,  and  as 
his  head  came  in  view  Richard  shot  him,  but  did  not 
kill  him.  Stephen  was  carried  home,  and  for  a  long 
time  was  unable  even  to  sit  up,  still  swearing,  how- 
ever, that  when  he  recovered  he  would  shoot  Rich- 
ard. His  brother,  knowing  the  threat  would  be  ex- 
ecuted, went  to  the  house  one  day,  and  while  Stephen 
was  sitting  on  the  bedside,  liaving  his  wounds  dressed, 
through  a  crack  of  the  house  Richard  shot  him 
through  the  heart.  It  is  said  that  the  manner  of 
men's  deaths  frequently  resembles  their  lives.  The 
fate  of  the  Lewises  seems  to  comfirm  the  fact.  They 
were  heartless  tyrants  while  they  lived,  and  as  tyrants 

deserve,  they  died  cruel  and  bloody  deaths. 
15 


2x8      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 


CHAPTER    II. 


"  Like  a  lovelj'  tyro 

She  grew  to  woniaiihood.  and  between  whiUs 

Rejected  several  suitors,  just  to  ]earn 

How  to  accept  a  worse  one  in  his  turn."  — Byron 

Naomi  Wise  was  a  lovely  girl,  just  blooming  into 
all  the  attractiveness  of  nineteen.  Though  serving 
as  cook  and  sometimes  as  outdoor  hand,  she  was  the 
light  of  the  family,  and  was  treated  better  than  such 
persons  usually  are.  She  was  neatly  dressed,  rode 
to  church  on  a  fine  horse  and  was  the  occasion  of 
many  youngsters  visiting  the  house  of  Mr.  Adams. 
Among  those  who  frequently  found  it  convenient  to 
call  at  Mr.  Adams'  was  Jonathan  Lewis.  His  father, 
Richard  Lewis  (the  same  that  shot  Stephen)  lived 
near  Centre  Meeting-house,  on  Polecat  creek,  in 
Guilford  county.  Jonathan  was  clerking  for  Benja- 
min Elliott,  at  Asheboro,  in  Randolph,  and  in  pass- 
ing from  Centre  to  Ashboro,  it  was  directly  in  his 
way  to  pass  through  New  Salem.  Jonathan,  like  the 
others  of  the  same  name,  was  a  large,  well-built, 
dignified-looking  man.  He  was  young,  daring  and 
impetuous.  If  he  had  lived  in  Scotland  he  would 
have  been  a  worthy  companion  for  Sir  William  Wal- 
lace or  Robert  Bruce;  in  England  he  would  have 
vied  with  the  Black  Prince  in  coolness  and  bravery; 
in  France  he  might  have  stood  by  the  side  of  Mc- 
Donald in  the  central  charge  at  Wagram ;  in  our  own 
revolution  his  bravery  and  power  w^ould,  perhaps, 


Appendix.  219 

have  saved  the  day  at  Brand3^vvine.  He  was  com- 
posed of  the  fiercest  elements;  his  wrath  was  like 
whirlwinds  and  scathing  lightning;  his  smile,  like 
sunbeams  bursting  through  a  cloud,  illumined  every 
countenance  upon  which  it  fell.  He  never  indulged 
in  tricks  or  small  sport — the  ordinary  pastimes  of 
youth  had  no  attraction  for  him.  The  smallest  ob- 
servation w^ould  teach  us  that  such  men  are  capable 
of  anything;  once  engaged,  they  are  champions  in 
the  cause  of  humanit}^;  but  once  let  loose,  like  un- 
chained lions,  they  tear  to  pieces  both  friends  and 
foes.  The  greatest  men  are  capable  of  being  the 
greatest  scourges.  Leonidas  was  a  rock  upon  which 
Persia  broke,  but  some  provocation  might  have  made 
him  a  rock  by  which  Greece  would  have  been  ground 
to  powder.  Dirk  Hatteraik  was  a  daring  smuggler, 
that  in  a  low,  black  lugger  defied  the  power  of  Eng- 
land; if  the  government  had  treated  this  man  wisely 
he  might  have  been  an  admiral  to  eclipse  Nelson. 
Our  daring,  headstrong  boys  are  generally  given 
over  as  worthless,  and  here  is  the  mistake:  the  world 
neither  understands  the  mission  nor  management  of 
such  powerful  minds.  Bucephalus  was  pronounced 
a  worthless  animal  by  the  whole  court  of  Philip; 
Alexander  alone  perceived  his  value  and  knew  how 
to  manage  him;  and,  in  fact,  Bucephalus  was  the 
greatest  horse  the  world  ever  saw. 

Jonathan  Lewis  saw  Naomi  Wise  and  loved  her. 
She  was  the  gentle,  confiding,  unprotected  creature 


220  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

that  a  man  like  Lewis  would  lovebj'  instinct.  Hence- 
forward he  was  a  frequent  visitor  at  Adams'.  The 
dark  clouds  that  had  so  long  hovered  over  the  orphan 
were  breaking  away;  the  misty,  dim  vista  of  the  future 
now  opened  with  clear  light  and  boundless  prospects 
of  good;  the  fogs  rolled  awa}-  from  the  valley  of  life, 
and  Naomi  saw  a  pretty  pathway,  bordered  with  flow- 
ers, and  crossed  only  by  little  rills  of  purest  water. 
Her  young  and  guileless  heart  beat  with  new  and 
higher  life;  that  she  was  loved  b}^  a  man  so  power- 
ful as  Lewis,  was  sufficient  recompense  for  a  cheer- 
less childhood.  Daj^  and  night  she  labored  to  pro- 
cure the  indispensables  of  housekeeping;  for  in  those 
days  it  was  esteemed  disreputable  if  a  girl,  b}-  the 
time  she  was  twenty,  had  not  made  or  earned  for 
herself  a  bed,  some  chairs,  pots,  tubs,  &c.  And  a 
young  lad}^  then  modestly  displayed  her  things  to 
her  lover  with  as  much  care  as  modern  misses  dis- 
play their  painting,  needle-work,  and  acquirements 
on  the  piano.  Instead  of  going  to  the  piano,  to  the 
dance  and  other  such  latter-day  inventions,  young- 
sters then  went  with  the  ladies  to  milk  the  cows,  and 
displa}^  their  gallantr}^  b}^  holding  away  the  calves 
while  the  operation  w^as  performed;  they  then  accom- 
panied the  damsels  to  the  spring  to  put  away  the 
milk,  and  brought  back  a  pail  of  water. 

Time  flew  on.  Lewis  still  continued  as  clerk,  and 
had  won  the  good  opinion  of  his  employer.  Naomi 
was  blooming  in  all  the  charms  of  early  womanhood; 


Appendix.  221 

her  love  for  Lewis  was  pure  and  ardent,  and  the 
rumor  was  abroad  that  a  marriage  was  shortly  to 
take  place.  But  an  evil  genius  crossed  the  path  of 
Lewis  in  the  shape  of  his  mother.  Her  ambition 
and  avarice  projected  for  her  son  a  match  of  different 
character.  She  deemed  it  in  the  range  of  possibility 
that  Jonathan  might  obtain  the  hand  of  Hettie  Elliott, 
the  sister  of  Benjamin  Elliott,  his  employer.  That 
mothers  are  ambitious  everybody  knows,  and  that 
they  are  the  worst  of  matchmakers  is  equall}-  well 
known.  But  Mrs.  Lewis  thought  Miss  Elliott  a 
prize  worthy  an  effort  at  least.  The  Elliotts  were 
wealthy,  honorable  and  in  high  repute.  They  have 
always  stood  high  in  this  county,  and  citizens  have 
delighted  to  honor  them  with  public  favor  and  pri- 
vate friendship.  Mr.  B.  Elliott,  Hettie' s  brother, 
evidently  prized  Lewis  highly;  he  regarded  him  as 
an  honorable,  intelligent  and  industrious  young  gen- 
tleman, and  no  doubt  thought  him  a  respectable 
match  for  his  sister.  Lewis  made  some  advances  to 
Hettie,  which  were  received  in  suCh  a  wa}^  as  to  in- 
spire hope.  This  was  the  turning  tide  in  the  fortunes 
of  Lewis.  The  smile  of  one  superior  to  Naomi  Wise 
in  every  respect,  except  beaut}'  and  goodness;  the 
earnest  exhortations  of  an  influential  mother,  and 
the  prospect  of  considerable  property,  bore  down  all 
obstacles.  The  pure  love  to  Miss  Wise,  the  native 
and  genuine  passion  of  his  own  heart,  were  not  equal 
to  a  conflict  with  pride  and  avarice.      Not  but  that 


22  2      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

Lewis,  as  any  other  man,  could  and  would  love  Miss 
Elliott.  She  was  accomplished,  beautiful,  and  of 
charming  manners — an  Elliott  could  not  be  other- 
wise. But  these  were  not  the  attractions  that  won 
Lewis.  Money,  famih'  connection,  name  and  station 
w^ere  the  influences  that  clouded  the  fair  prospects 
of  innocence,  opened  the  flood-gates  of  evil,  and  in- 
volved all  the  parties  concerned  in  ruin. 

Tupper  has  wisely  said  that  nothing  in  this  w^orld 
is  single;  all  things  are  in  pairs,  and  the  perfection 
of  earthly  existence  consists  in  properl}^  pairing  all 
the  separate  elements.  Two  elements  properlj^ 
adapted  have  a  natural  attraction,  and  firmly  adhere, 
amid  all  circumstances  of  prosperity  or  disaster;  but 
two  elements  improperl}^  mated  repel  each  other  with 
natural  and  undying  repulsion,  in  spite  of  circum- 
stances or  calculations.  The  j'oung  instinctively  and 
naturally  love  those  that  would  make  them  happ}-; 
but  pride,  famil}'  interference  and  coldhearted  calcu- 
lation often  interpose;  sordid  considerations  tear 
asunder  the  holiest  chords  of  affection,  and  vainly 
attempt  to  thwart  nature's  own  promptings.  Lewis 
loved  Miss  Wise  for  herself;  no  selfish  motive  moved 
his  heart  or  tongue;  this  would  have  been  a  union 
of  peace  and  joy.  He  wished  to  marry  Miss  Elliott, 
not  because  he  loved  her,  but  influenced  wholly  by 
other  and  base  considerations. 

An  old  adage  says,  "The  better  anything  is  in  its 
legitimate  sphere,  the  worse  it  is  when  otherwise 


Appendix.  223 

employed."  lyewis,  no  doubt,  would  have  been  an 
honorable  and  useful  man,  if  he  had  married  Naomi; 
he  would  then  have  been  using  the  highest  and 
strongest  principle  of  human  nature  in  a  proper 
manner.  In  an  evil  hour  he  listened  to  the  tempter; 
he  turned  aside  from  the  wa3^s  of  honor  and  truth. 
His  eyes  became  blinded,  conscience,  the  star  of 
human  destiny,  lost  her  polarity,  and  the  fierce  storms 
drove  his  proud  ship  into  the  maelstrom  of  ruin. 
Jonathan  I^ewis  was  no  more  the  proud,  manly  gen- 
tleman; he  was  henceforth  a  hard-hearted,  merciless 
wretch.  He  was  a  hyena,  skulking  about  the  path- 
way of  life,  ready  alike  to  kill  the  living  and  to  tear 
the  dead  from  their  graves.  He  not  only  resolved  to 
forsake  a  lovel}-  damsel,  but  first  to  ruin  her  fair 
name.  His  resolve  w^as  accomplished.  He  might 
have  foreseen  that  this  would  ru-in  his  prospects  with 
the  beautiful  Miss  Elliott;  but  the  "wicked  are 
blind  and  fall  into  the  pit  their  own  hands  have 
digged."  There  are  many  young  men  now  moving 
in  high  society  that  think  violets  were  created  to  be 
crushed  by  haughty  boot  heels;  that  desert  flowers 
should  rather  be  blasted  than  waste  their  sweetness 
on  the  air;  that  pearls  should  rather  adorn  a  Cyclops 
than  sparkle  in  their  native  deep.  Not  so,  ye  canni- 
bals. If  names  must  be  blasted  and  characters  ruined, 
in  the  name  of  heaven  let  your  victims  come  from 
among  the  affluent  and  the  honorable.  Who  will 
pity  and  protect  the  poor  daughter  of  shame;  who 


224      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

will  give  her  a  crumb  of  bread  ?  The  more  wealthy 
victim  might,  at  least,  have  bread  to  eat,  water  to 
drink,  and  wherewithal  to  be  clothed.  Ye  fair, 
blooming  daughters  of  povert}^,  shun  the  advances 
of  those  who  avoid  you  in  company,  as  you  would 
shun  the  grim  monster  death. 

Lewds,  aware  that  a  period  was  approaching  that 
would  mar  all  his  hopes,  unless  they  should  imme- 
diately be  consummated,  urged  his  suit  with  all  pos- 
sible haste.  Miss  Elliott,  however,  baffled  him  on 
ever}^  tack,  and  though  she  encouraged  him,  gave 
him  but  little  hope  of  succeeding  immediatel3^  In 
the  meanwhile,  Naomi  urged  the  fulfilment  of  his 
promise,  that  he  would  marry  her  forthwith,  seconded 
b}'  the  power  of  tears  and*  pra^'ers.  When  these 
means  seemed  unavailing,  she  threatened  him  with 
the  law.  Lewis,  alarmed  at  this,  charged  her,  at 
peril  of  life,  to  remain  silent;  he  told  her  that  their 
marriage  w^as  sure,  but  that  very  peculiar  circum- 
stances required  all  to  be  kept  silent.  But  before  he 
could  bring  matters  to  an  issue  wdth  Miss  Elliott, 
rumor  whispered  abroad  the  engagement  and  disgrace 
of  Naomi  Wise.  This  rumor  fell  like  thunder  upon 
Lewis;  the  depths  of  a  dark  but  powerful  soul  were 
awakened;  his  hopes  were  quivering  upon  a  balance 
w^hich  the  next  breath  threatened  with  ruin.  With 
a  coolness  and  steadiness  which  innocence  is  wont  to 
wear,  Lewis  affirmed  to  Miss  Elliott  that  said  rumor 
was  a  base,  malicious  slander,  circulated  b}^  the  ene- 


Appendix.  225 

mies  of  the  Lewis  family  to  ruin  his  character,  and 
offered  that  time,  a  very  fair  arbiter,  should  decide 
upon  the  report,  and  if  adjudged  guilty,  he  would 
reHnquish  all  claim  to  her  (Miss  EUiott's)  hand.   For 
several  days  Lewis  was  apparently  uneasy,  appeared 
abstracted,   neglected  his  business,  and  was  not  a 
little  ill.     Mr.  Elliott  assigned  one  cause.  Miss  Elliott 
another,  but  the  true  one  was  unknown  to  any  one. 
The  kingdom  was  in  commotion,  dark  deeds  were  in 
contemplation,  and  at  length  the  die  was  cast.   Mrs. 
Adams  had  frequently  of  late  told  Naomi  that  Lewis 
did  not  intend  to  marry  her;  that  he  was  playing  a 
game  of  villainy,  and  that  she  should  place  no  further 
confidence  in  any  of  his  assertions;  but  the  poor  girl 
thought  or  hoped  differently;    she  could  not    and 
would  not  believe  that  Jonathan  Lewis  was  untrue. 
^Woman's  love  cannot  doubt.     Lewis  at  length  came 
to  see  Miss  Wise,  and  told  her  that  he  washed  not  to 
delay  the  marriage  any  longer;  that  he  had  made  all 
necessary  arrangements,  and  that  he  would  come  and 
take  her  to  the  house  of  a  magistrate  on  a  certain 
day.    She  urged  the  propriety  of  the  marriage  taking 
place  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Adams;  but  he  refused, 
and  she,  without  much  reluctance,  consented  to  his 
wishes.     Time  sped  on;   the  last  morn  rolled  up  the 
eastern  vault  in  his  chariot,  dispensing  light  and  joy 
to  milHons;  Naomi  walked  forth  with  light  heart  and 
step,  thinking  only  of  her  coming  nuptials.     During 
the  day,  in  the  midst  of  her  anticipations,  gloomy 


226      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

forebodings  would  disturb  her.  Like  the  light  breeze 
preceding  the  storm,  they  seemed  to  come  and  go 
without  cause.     So  true  is  it  that 

"  Coming  events  cast  their  shadows  before." 

She  told  nothing  of  what  was  about  to  take  place  to 
Mr.  Adams;  but  at  the  appointed  time,  taking  the 
water  pail  in  her  hand,  she  went  to  the  spring,  the 
place  at  which  she  had  agreed  to  meet  Lewis.  He 
soon  appeared  and  took  her  behind  him.  It  is  said 
that  the  stump  from  which  Naomi  mounted  remains 
to  this  day,  and  may  be  seen  by  any  one  who  will 
visit  New  Salem. 

"  The  last  lone  relic  of  Naomi's  love, 

A  speaking  monument  of  a  wretch's  heart: 
Like  love,  its  grasp  time  scarce  can  move. 
Like  treachery,  corruption  lurks  in  every  part." 

The  strong  steed  bore  Naomi  rapidly  from  the 
home  of  her  childhood  and  youth;  from  the  kind 
Mrs.  Adams  that  was  wont  to  soothe  in  every  trouble. 


CHAPTER    III. 

Naomi  very  soon  perceived  that  they  were  not  ap- 
proaching the  magistrate,  by  whose  mystic  knot 
sorrow  was  to  be  killed  and  joy  born;  but,  to  her 
great  surprise,  Lewis  kept  the  direct  road  to  the  river, 
speaking  to  her  in  the  meantime  with  rather  a  strange 
voice  and  an  incoherent  manner.  She  tried  to  im- 
agine his  object,  but  she  was  convinced  that  he  would 
not  take  her  to  Asheboro,  and  she  knew  of  no  magis- 


Appendix.  227 

trate  in  that  direction.  Every  effort,  therefore,  failed 
to  give  her  troubled  mind  any  peace.  Slackening 
his  pace  to  a  slow  walk,  Lewis  and  Naomi  held  the 
following  conversation: 

"  Naomi,  which  do  you  think  is  the  easiest:  a  slow 
or  sudden  death  ?' ' 

"I'm  sure  I  don't  know^;  but  what  makes  you  ask 
me  that  question?" 

"Why,  I  was  just  thinking  about  it.  But  which 
would  you  prefer,  if  you  could  have  choice?" 

' '  I  would  try  to  be  resigned  to  whatever  Provi- 
dence might  appoint,  and  since  we  cannot  have  a 
choice,  it  is  useless  to  have  any  preferences." 

"Well,  Naomi,  do  you  think  3^ou  would  like  to 
know  the  time  when  you  are  to  die  ?" 

"Why,  Jonathan,  what  do  you  mean  by  such 
questions?  I  have  never  thought  of  such  matters; 
and  I  am  sure  I  never  knew  you  to  be  mentioning 
such  things  before." 

Lewis  rode  on  for  some  time  without  making  any 
reply,  seeming  in  a  deep  revery;  but  in  fact  in  the 
most  intense  excitement.     At  length  he  remarked: 

"Well,  Naomi,  I  believe  I  know  both  the  time 
and  manner  of  your  death,  and  I  think  it  is  in  my 
power  to  give  you  a  choice." 

This  ran  through  the  poor  girl  like  a  dart  of  death ; 
it  was  some  minutes  before  she  could  make  any  reply. 

"For  the  Lord's  sake,  Jonathan,  what  do  you 
mean?  Do  3^ou  intend  to  kill  me,  or  why  do  j^ou 
talk  so?" 


228  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

"I  will  never  harm  3'ou;  we  shall  be  married  in 

two  hours.     As  you  see,  I  am  not  going  to ,  as 

I  first  intended,  but  am  going  across  the  river,  where 
we  shall  have  a  nice  wedding. ' ' 

"Jonathan,  I'm  afraid  everj'thing  is  not  right,  and 
I  feel  so  bad  this  evening.  I  had  rather  go  home  and 
put  it  off  till  another  day." 

"No,  no;  that  will  not  do.  I  tell  you,  again,  you 
need  not  fear  any  thing.  Just  be  perfectly  contented, 
and  fear  no  harm  from  him  that  loves  you  better  than 
himself." 

They  were  now  on  a  high  bluff  that  commanded 
an  extensive  view  of  the  river  and  the  country  be- 
yond. The  bold,  rocky  channel  of  the  stream  was 
distinctly  visible  for  a  great  distance  to  the  south- 
east, whilst  from  the  northwest  came  the  river,  now 
swollen  by  recent  rains,  roaring  and  tumbling  over 
rocky  ledges,  and  then  moving  calmly  away.  A 
l3lue  crane  was  flying  slowly  above  the  bed  of  the 
stream,  whilst  amid  the  dwarf  pines  and  cedars  that 
grew  upon  the  crags,  many  ravens  were  cawing  and 
screaming.  This  scenery,  heightened  by  the  dusk 
of  evening,  strongly  impressed  Naomi's  mind.  She 
remarked  to  Lewis: 

"  I  am  almost  afraid  to  be  in  this  lonely  place;  I 
wish  we  were  away.  O!  how  happy  I  should  be,  if 
we  had  a  quiet  home  like  yon  from  which  that  smoke 
is  rising  away  over  the  hills.  It  may  be  foolishness, 
Jonathan,  but  I  want  you  to  be  careful   in  going 


Appendix.  229 

down  these  banks  and  crossing  the  river.  I  have  so 
often  feared  something  would  happen  to  prevent  the 
happiness  we  expect,  and  I  am  sure  I  never  felt  so 
bad  in  my  life. " 

Lewis  reined  up  his  horse,  stopped  for  a  short 
time,  then  started  forward,  muttering:  "I  will  though;! 
I  am  a  coward. ' '  Miss  Wise  asked  him  what  he 
was  sa^'ing;  he  replied  that  he  only  meant  that  they 
should  be  married  that  night.  The  river  was  here 
tolerabl}^  wide  and  below  the  ford  some  little  turf- 
islands,  covered  with  alders  and  willows,  made  sev- 
eral sluices.  Lewis  rushed  his  horse  in  the  water, 
which  came  up  to  his  sides,  and  plunged  forward 
rapidlj^  till  he  reached  the  middle  of  the  channel. 
Then  stopping  his  beast  and  turning  himself  in  the 
saddle,  he  said  to  Naomi  in  a  husky  voice:  "  Naomi, 
I  will  tell  you  what  I  intend  to  do;  I  intend  to  drown 
you  in  this  river;  we  can  never  marr}^  I  found  I 
I  could  never  get  away  from  3^ou,  and  I  am  determined 
to  drown  you." 

*'0!  Jonathan,  Jonathan,"  screamed  the  victim, 
"you  do  not,  cannot  mean  what  you  say;  do  not 
terrify  me  so  much,  and  make  haste  out  of  here." 

"I  mean,"  said  Lewis,  "just  what  I  say;  you 
will  never  go  from  here  alive.  You  cannot  move  me 
by  words  or  tears;  my  mind  is  fixed.  I  swear  by  all 
that's  good  or  bad,  that  you  have  not  five  minutes 
to  live.  You  have  enticed  me  to  injure  m}^  charac- 
ter, you  have  made  me  neglect  my  business.     You 


230  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

ought  never  to  have  been  such  a  fool  as  to  expect 
that  I  would  marry  such  a  girl  as  j^ou  are  You  did 
not  expect  that  I  was  taking  you  off  to  marry  you, 
when  3'ou  got  up  behind  me;  you  no  doubt  thought 
I  would  take  you  to  Asheboro,  and  keep  you  there 
as  a  base .     Prepare  to  die. ' ' 

"  My  Lord,  what  shall  I  do?"  said  Naomi.  "You 
know  I  have  loved  you  with  my  whole  soul;  I  have 
trusted  3^ou,  and  when  you  betrayed  me  I  never 
reviled  you.  How  often  did  I  tell  you  that  3^ou  did 
not  intend  to  marry  me !  How  many  times  did  I  be- 
seech you  to  be  honest  with  me!  And  after  all,  3^ou 
certainly  wdll  not  drown  me  ?  O,  Jonathan,  for 
heaven's  sake  take  me  out  of  this  river!  Do,  Oh,  do! 
O,  spare  my  life!  I  will  never  ask  you  to  marry  me. 
I  will  leave  the  country.  I  will  never  mention  your 
name  again,  and  " 

Lewis  stopped  short  her  entreaties  by  grasping  her 
throat  with  his  left  hand;  her  struggles  immediately 
threw  them  both  from  the  horse.  Being  a  tall, 
strong  man,  he  held  her  above  the  water  until  he 
tied  her  dress  above  her  head,  and  then  held  her 
under  beneath  his  foot,  until  he  was  alarmed  by  a 
glare  of  torches  approaching  along  the  road  he  had 
just  come.  He  mounted  his  horse  and  dashed  out 
of  the  river  on  the  south  side. 

Mrs.  Davis  lived  at  no  great  distance  from  the 
river,  and  had  heard  the  death  screaming  of  poor 
Naomi,     She  had  heard  the  startling  cry  as  the  vil- 


Appendix.  231 

lain  caught  her  b}^  the  throat;  then  she  heard  the 
wild  wail  when  she  arose  from  the  water,  and  lastly, 
the  stifled  sobs  as  she  was  muflied  in  her  dress.  The 
old  lady  called  her  bo3^s  and  bid  them  hasten  to  the 
ford;  that  somebody  was  murdered  or  drowned.  But 
they  were  afraid  to  go;  they  hesitated  and  parleyed. 
At  last  the}^  set  out  with  glaring  torches,  but  it  was 
too  late.  They  arrived  only  in  time  to  hear  the  mur- 
derer leaving  the  opposite  bank.  They  neither  saw 
nor  heard  Naomi.  She  was  already  dead;  her  last 
scream  had  died  away,  her  last  gasping  groan  had 
arisen  through  the  rippling  waters,  and  her  body  was 
floating  amid  the  willows  of  a  turf- island.  A  pure 
and  beautiful  damsel,  she  had  attracted  the  admira- 
tion of  a  cold-hearted  world  without  gaining  its 
respect ;  her  pathway  had  been  waylaid  by  those  who 
thought  poor,  unprotected  beauty  bloomed  only  to 
be  blasted.  Her  pure  and  ardent  affections,  having 
never  enjoyed  the  sunshine  of  love,  were  ready  to 
grasp  the  first  support  that  offered.  She  had  given 
her  heart  to  a  deceiver;  she  had  trusted  her  life  to  a 
destroyer,  and  the  murmuring  waves  that  now  bathed 
her  lifeless  form,  and  rocked  her  on  their  cold  bosom, 
were  the  only  agents,  perhaps,  that  had  ever  acted 
towards  her  without  selfishness. 

Early  on  the  next  morning  the  people  of  her  home 
were  searching  in  all  directions  for  Naomi.  Mrs. 
Adams  had  passed  a  sleepless  night;  a  strange  im- 
pression had  instantly  fixed  itself  upon  her  mind  as 


232      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

soon  as  Naomi  was  missed,  and  in  her  broken  slum- 
bers during  the  night  she  was  aroused  by  sometimes 
imagining  that  Xaomi  called  her,  at  other  times  by 
dreaming  that  she  saw  her  dead,  and  again  b)^  think- 
ing she  heard  her  screaming.  At  earh^  dawn  she 
aroused  the  vicinity,  and  going  to  the  spring  the 
tracks  of  a  horse  were  readily  discovered,  and  b}"  the 
sign,  it  was  evident  that  Xaomi  had  mounted  from 
the  stump.  The  companj^  followed  the  track  until 
Mrs.  Davis  and  her  boys  were  met  coming  in  haste 
to  tell  the  circumstances  of  the  preceding  evening. 
The  old  lad}^  told  the  crowd  of  the  screaming  she 
had  heard;  that  the  boys  had  gone  down  w4th  the 
lights  and  heard  a  horseman  galloping  from  the  op- 
posite bank. 

"Ah!"  said  the  old  lady,  "murder's  been  done; 
sich  unearthly  screams  can't  come  of  nothing;  they 
made  the  hair  rise  on  my  head,  and  the'ver}'  blood 
curdle  in  my  heart.  No  doubt  poor  Naomi's  been 
drowned.  O!  ef  I  had  been  young  as  I  once  was,  I 
would  a  run  down  there  and  killed  the  rascal  afore 
he  could  a  got  away!  What  is  the  world  a  coming 
to?" 

The  compan}^  hastened  to  the  river,  and  in  a  few 
moments  discovered  the  bod}*,  still  muffled  in  the 
clothing.  She  was  quickly  borne  to  the  shore  and 
laid  upon  a  rock;  upon  the  fair  neck  of  the  dead 
were  still  to  be  seen  the  marks  of  the  ruffian's  fingers. 
The  coroner  was  sent  for,  the  jury  summoned,  and 


Appendix.         •  233 

the  verdict  pronounced,  "Drowned  by  violence." 
Some  one  of  the  vast  crowd  now  assembled  suggested 
that  Lewis  should  be  •  sought  and  brought  to  the 
corpse  ere  it  was  interred.  This  was  assented  to  by 
acclamation,  but  who  would  do  it?  Who  would 
dare  to  apprehend  a  Lewis  ?  A  firm,  brave  officer 
of  Randolph  accepted  the  task,  and  having  selected 
his  company  from  the  numerous  candidates — for 
every  j^outh  on  the  ground  offered — proceeded  to 
Asheboro. 

So  soon  as  Lewis  saw  the  lights  coming  while  he 
was  at  his  work  of  death,  as  above  said,  he  dashed 
out  of  the  river,  having  no  doubt  that  the  water 
would  bear  the  body  into  the  deep  pools  below  the 
ford,  and  render  discovery  impossible.  We  have 
seen  that  in  this  he  was  disappointed.  Leaving  the 
river,  he  rode  rapidl}^  around  to  another  ford  and 
hastened  to  his  father's,  near  Centre  Meeting-house. 
He  dashed  into  the  room  where  his  mother  was  sit- 
ting, and  asked  for  a  change  of  clothes.  The  old 
lad}^,  alarmed,  asked  him  why  he  came  at  that  time 
of  week  (for  he  usuall}^  came  on  Sunday);  why  he 
was  wet,  and  why  he  looked  so  pale  and  spoke  in 
such  a  strange  voice.  He  replied  that  he  had  started 
home  on  some  business,  and  that  his  horse  had  fallen 
with  him  into  the  river,  and  that  his  wet  clothes  made 
him  look  pale,  and  altered  his  voice.  His  mother 
had  too  much  sagacity  to  believe  such  a  tale,  but  she 
could  obtain  from  him  no  other  explanation.  Having 
16 


234  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

procured  a  change  of  apparel,  he  departed  and  arrived 
at  Asheboro  early  next  morning.  Riding  up  to  Col. 
Craven's,  he  called  at  the  door.  Mrs.  Craven  an- 
swered the  call,  and  exclaimed  in  astonishment: 

"What's  the  matter  Lewis;  what  have  you  been 
doing?    Have  you  killed  'Omi  Wise?" 

Lewis  was  stunned.  Raising  his  hand  and  rub- 
bing his  eyes,  he  said: 

"Why,  what  makes  you  ask  me  that  question?" 

"No  particular  reason,"  said  Mrs.  Craven,  "only 
you  look  so  pale  and  wild;  you  don't  look  at  all  like 
yourself  this  morning. ' ' 

Lewis  made  no  repl}-,  but  the  flushed  countenance 
which  he  exhibited  would  have  afforded  no  small 
evidence  to  a  close  observer,  that  something  was 
wrong.  So  true  is  it,  that  "The  wicked  flee  when 
no  man  pursueth."  Leaving  Asheboro,  Lewis  went 
to  a  sale  at  a  Mr.  Hancock's,  at  a  place  now  owned 
by  Thomas  Cox.  During  the  day  it  was  remarked 
by  man}^  that  Jonathan  Lewis  had  a  cast  of  counte- 
nance b}^  no  means  usual.  Instead  of  that  bold, 
daring  independence  that  was  usual  to  him,  he  seemed 
reserved,  downcast  and  restless.  By  indulging  freely 
in  drink,  which  was  alwa3'S  to  be  had  on  such  occa- 
sions, he  became  more  like  himself  toward  evening, 
and  even  ventured  to  mingle  with  the  ladies.  For 
it  should  be  observed,  that  in  those  days  the  ladies 
attended  vendues,  elections,  musters,  etc.,  without 
derogation  to  their  characters.     And  in  very  many 


Appendix.  235 

places  a  3'oung  man  showed  his  gallantr}^  by  collect- 
ing the  fair  ones  whom  he  would  honor,  and  con- 
ducting them  to  some  wagon,  where  his  liberality 
was  displayed  by  purchasing  cakes,  cider,  etc.  Let 
it  not  be  supposed"  that  this  custom  was  confined  to 
the  low  or  vulgar,  for  the  practice  was  well  nigh 
universal.  Our  ladj^  readers  must  not  think  it  be- 
neath their  dignity  to  read  of  such  characters,  for 
our  mothers,  and  perhaps  theirs  also,  have  received 
such  treats.  Lewis,  on  the  occasion  above  named, 
seemed  particularly  attracted  b}^  Martha,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Stephen  Huzza.  After  waiting  upon  her, 
according  to  the  manner  of  the  times,  Lewis  accom- 
panied her  home.  The  manner  of  courting  at  that 
day  was  very  different  from  what  now  prevails.  The 
custom  then  was,  for  the  young  people  to  remain  in 
the  room  after  the  old  people  retired,  then  seat  them-  / 
selves  beside  each  other  and  there  remain  until 
twelve  or  one  o'clock.  Lewis  had  taken  his  seat  and 
drawn  Martha  into  his  lap — rather  a  rude  move  even 
at  that  time,  and  not  a  little  contrary  to  Martha's 
will — when  a  gentle  rap  was  heard  at  the  door.  While 
the  inmates  w^ere  listening  to  hear  it  repeated,  the 
door  opened  and  Robert  Murdock,  the  brave  officer 
who  had  pursued  Lewis,  entered,  attended  b}^  a  re- 
tinue that  at  once  overawed  the  unarmed  murderer. 
He  suffered  himself  to  be  quietly  arrested  and  taken 
back  to  the  river  bank,  where  his  victim  still  re- 
mained. 


236  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

He  put  his  hand  upon  her  face,  and  smoothed 
her  hair,  apparently  unmoved.  So  greatly  was  the 
crowd  incensed  at  this  hard-hearted  audacit}^  that 
the  authority  of  the  officer  was  scarceh'  sufficient  to 
prevent  the  villain  being  killed  upon  the  spot.  The 
evidence  against  Lewis,  though  circumstantial,  was 
deemed  conclusive.  The  foot-prints  from  the  stump 
to  the  river  exactly  fitted  his  horse;  hairs  upon  the 
skirt  in  w^hich  she  rode,  were  found  to  fit  in  color; 
a  small  piece  torn  from  Lewis'  accoutrement,  fitted 
both  rent  and  texture;  his  absence  from  Asheboro, 
and  many  other  minute  circumstances  all  conspired 
to  the  same  point.  In  proper  form  he  was  commit- 
ted to  jail  in  Asheboro  to  await  his  trial.  A  vast 
compan}^  on  the  next  day  attended  the  remains  of 
Naomi  to  the  grave.  The  whole  communit}^  mourned 
her  untimely  death;  the  aged  wiped  the  falling  tear 
from  their  wrinkled  faces;  the  young  men  stood  there 
in  deep  solemnit}',  and  sighed  over  the  fair  one  now 
pale  in  death;  manj^,  very  many  maidens  wept  over 
betrayed  and  blasted  innocence,  and  all  were  melted 
in  grief  when  the  shroud  hid  the  face  of  Naomi  for- 
ever. 

The  writer  knows  not  the  place  of  her  grave,  else 
would  he  visit  that  lonely  place;  he  would  place  at 
her  head  a  simple  stone,  to  tell  her  name,  her  excel- 
lence and  her  ruin;  he  would  plant  there  appropriate 
emblems,  and  drop  a  tear  over  the  memory  of  her 
who  sleeps  beneath. 


Appendix.  237 


Oh!  fair  as  the  wild  flower,  close  to  thee  growing, 

How  pure  was  thy  heart  till  love's  witchery  came, 
Like  the  wind  of  the  South  o'er  a  summer  lute  blowing, 

It  hushed  all  its  music  and  withered  Its  fame. 
The  young  village  maid,  when  with  flowers  she  dresses 

Her  dark  flowing  hair  for  some  festival  daj', 
Will  think  of  thy  fate  till  neglecting  her  tresses, 

She  mournfully  turns  from  the  mirror  away." 


CHAPTER    IV. 

Though  Lewis  was  confined  in  the  strong  jail  that  i 
then  towered  in  Asheboro  as  a  terror  to  evil-doers, 
his  was  not  the  character  to  yield  without  an  effort; 
and  such  was  his  strength,  skill,  or  assistance  that 
he  soon  escaped.     He  broke  jail  and  fled  to  parts  \ 
unknown.     Time  rolled  on,  bearing  upon  its  ever 
changing  surface  new  scenes,  actions  and  subjects  of 
thought.     Naomi  was  beginning  to  fade  from  mem- 
ory, and  I^ewis  was  scarcely  thought  of.     The  whole 
tragedy  would,  perhaps,  have  been  nearly  in  the  sea 
of  oblivion,  but  for  the  song  of  ''Omi  Wise,''  which 
was  sung  in  every  neighborhood.     At  length  rumor, 
the  persecutor  and  avenger,  gave  tidings  that  Jona- 
than Lewis  was  living  at  the   Falls  of  Ohio,  was  ^ 
married,  had  one  child,  and  considered  in  prosperous 
circumstances.     The  murdered  girl  rose  fresh  in  the 
minds  of  the  people.     Justice  cried,    "  cut  the  sinner 
down."     Indignation  cried  shame  to  the  lingering 
servants  of  law.     Colonel  Craven,  Colonel  Lane,  and 
George  Swearengain,  properly  commissioned,  started 


238  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

in  quest  of  the  criminal.  Many  were  the  sighs  and 
expressions  of  anxiety  that  escaped  their  friends, 
when  these  worthy  citizens  departed.  All  were 
aware  that  the  enterprise  was  perilous.  Most  of  the 
Lewis  famil}^  had  migrated  to  the  same  region,  and 
one  Lewis  was  not  trifled  with,  much  less  a  commu- 
nity of  such  personages.  But  brave  men,  especially 
of  Randolph  count}',  sustained  by  justice,  never 
count  the  foe,  or  ask  a  parle}^  Having  arrived  in 
the  neighborhood,  or  rather  in  the  countr}^  (for  the}^ 
were  yet  man}-  miles  from  Lewis'  home)  the}'  made 
inquir}'  until  they  found  the  circumstances  and  posi- 
tion of  the  families.  Knowing  that  if  they  appeared 
in  person  their  object  would  be  defeated,  the}'  hired 
two  sturdy  hunters  for  a  fee  of  seventy-five  dollars 
to  take  Jonathan,  dead  or  alive, "and  deliver  him  at  a 
certain  town.  "No  work,  no  pay."  The  three 
officers  went  to  the  town  to  await  the  issue,  and  if  it 
failed,  to  collect,  if  possible,  such  force  as  might  be 
necessary  to  wage  civil  war  upon  the  whole  offend- 
ing tribe. 

The  hunters,  unknown  to  the  Lewises,  having 
arrived  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  learned  that  a 
great  dance  was  to  take  place  that  night  at  a  house 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  that  all  the  Lewises  would 
be  there.  They  concluded  that  the  occasion  would 
either  enable  them  to  execute  their  object,  or  at  least 
to  make  some  useful  observations;  they  accordingly 
rode  to  the  place,  in  appearance  and  profession  two 


Appendix.  239 

wandering  backwoodsmen.  Arriving  at  the  rude 
fence  in  front  of  the  house  and  seeing  a  considerable 
number  alread}^  collected,  one  of  the  hunters  cried: 

"Hallo  to  the  man  of  the  house  and  all  his  friends !' ' 

"  Hallo  back  to  you,"  said  a  voice  wnthin,  "  and 
maybe  you'd  light  and  look  at  your  saddle?" 

* '  Apt  as  not, ' '  said  the  hunter,  ' '  if  we're  allowed 
to  see  our  saddles  on  the  peg,  our  bosses  eatin'  fod- 
der, and  ourselves  merry  over  hog  and  hominy." 

'*Ef  3^ou  are  what  you  look  like,"  said  the  land- 
lord, stepping  into  the  yard,  ''and  not  Yankee 
speculators,  nor  bamboozled  officers,  nor  Natchez 
sharpers,  3^ou  are  welcome  to  sich  as  we  have." 

"  And  'spose  we  are  not  what  we  look  like,"  re- 
plied the  hunter,    ' '  what  then  ?' ' 

"Why,  the  sooner  you  move  your  washing  the 
better;  we're  plain,  honest  folks  here  and  deal  with 
all  scatterlopers  arter  their  deserts. ' ' 

"Well,  well,  we'll  light  and  take  some  of  your 
pone  and  a  little  of  your  bhnkeye,  and  maybe  as 
how  we'll  get  better  acquainted." 

So  saying  the  strangers  alighted,  and  having  seen 
their  horses  supplied  with  a  bountiful  quantity  of 
provender,  they  entered  the  house  and  mingled  with 
the  guests,  without  exciting  suspicion  or  even  much 
notice.  They  had  previously  agreed  that  one  should 
do  the  talking,  lest  they  might  commit  some  incon- 
gruities. A  glance  convinced  them  that  Jonathan 
Lewis  was  not  there.     The  guests  continued  to  as- 


240  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

semble,  women,  men  and  children;  an  old  wrinkled- 
faced  vagabond  commenced  tuning  his  violin,  and 
the  parties  were  arranging  themselves  for  the  dance, 
when  a  strong,  powerful  man  entered.  His  hair  was 
long,  bushy  and  matted  as  if  it  had  never  known  the 
virtue  of  a  comb;  his  eyebrows  were  dark  and  heavy; 
his  step  was  decided  and  firm;  he  wore  a  belted 
hunting  shirt,  in  the  band  of  which  hung  a  long, 
double-edged  hunting  knife,  and  under  its  folds  were 
plainly  visible  two  heavy  pistols.  His  keen  eye  de- 
tected the  strangers  instantly,  and  forthwith  he 
sought  the  landlord  at  the  other  end  of  the  house, 
and  engaged  him  for  a  time  in  whispers.  Our  hun- 
ters knew  their  man,  and  watched  him  with  no  small 
anxiety,  nor  was  it  long  until  he  approached  them 
and  said: 

"  I  reckon  you're  strangers  in  these  parts  ?" 

"I  reckon  we  are,  too,  being  we  know  nobody 
and  nobody  knows  us;  and  we're  perlite  enough  not 
to  trouble  strangers  wnth  foolish  questions,  and  so  I 
guess  we  shall  still  be  strangers." 

This  answer  to  his  implied  question  evidently 
displeased  the  interrogator;  after  eyeing  them  a  mo- 
ment, he  continued: 

"  But  maybe  we  all  come  from  the  same  land,  and 
so  might  scrape  an  acquaintance  easier  than  you 
think." 

"As  to  that,  it's  no  difference,  without  telling  or 
asking  names,  we  give  the  right  hand  to  every  hon- 
est hunter." 


Appendix.  241 

"Then  you're  hunters,  I  'spose,  and  as  we  have 
a  great  deer  hunt  to-morrow,  perhaps  you'll  join." 

"That  we  will,  ef  its  agreeable." 

The  dance  passed  off  without  anything  remarka- 
ble, and  early  next  morning  the  horns  were  sound- 
ing, the  dogs  yelping,  and  everything  alive  for  the 
hunt.  In  arranging  the  couples  to  stand  at  the 
crosses,  it  so  happened  that  Jonathan  and  our  talk- 
ing hunter  were  stationed  together,  and  the  other 
stranger  at  no  great  distance.  The  drivers  had  de- 
parted, and  the  marksmen  were  reclining  at  ease  or 
examining  their  firelocks,  when  Jonathan  discovered 
that  he  had  no  powder.  As  it  would  probably  be 
an  hour  or  two  before  the  game  would  appear,  Lewis 
proposed  to  his  companion  that  they  should  go  to 
the  village  and  supply  themselves  with  powder.  They 
had  no  sooner  started  than  the  other  hunter  discov- 
ered his  comrade  to  give  the  signal.  He  accordingly 
follow^ed  at  some  distance  in  the  rear.  Close  by  the 
village  he  met  Lewis  and  his  companion  on  their 
return.  The  hunters  exchanged  signs  and  agreed 
to  make  the  effort;  they  were  fully  aware  of  their 
peril,  for  though  two  against  one,  they  knew  their 
antagonist  to  be  much  more  powerful  than  either, 
and  to  be  well  armed.  The  hunter  that  met  them 
pretended  that  he  had  become  alarmed  when  he 
missed  them,  not  knowing  what  might  happen,  and 
that  he  had  come  in  search;  then  asking  about  the 
powder,  requested  to  see  some.     While  Lewis  was 


242  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

pouring  some  into  his  hand,  the  other  seized  him 
from  behind,  in  order  to  hold  his  hands  fast,  while 
the  front  man,  grasping  him  by  the  legs,  endeavored 
to  throw  him.  Like  a  second  Sampson,  Lewis  tore 
his  arms  from  the  grasp  of  the  hunter,  and  with  a 
backhanded  blow  sent  him  near  a  rod  backw^ards,  at 
the  same  time  kicking  down  the  man  that  was  before 
him.  But  before  he  could  level  his  gun,  the  first 
hunter  gave  him  such  a  blow  with  the  barrel  of  his 
gun  that  he  reeled  and  fell;  but  pointing  his  gun  as 
the  second  hunter  came,  he  would  have  shot  him 
dead  if  the  other  had  not  struck  his  arm.  The  flash 
of  the  gun,  however,  set  fire  to  the  powder,  that  in 
the  melee  had  been  spilled  upon  the  hunter's  clothes 
and  scorched  the  w^hole  compan}-  not  a  little.  Lewis, 
better  capable  of  enduring  such  catastrophes  than 
the  others,  taking  advantage  of  the  confusion,  would 
have  made  his  escape  had  not  the  villagers  arrived 
in  sufficient  strength  to  overpower  him  by  force  of 
numbers. 

Colonel  Craven  and  his  companions  received  Lewis 
bound  with  strong  cords,  and  immediatel}^  started 
for  Carolina,  nor  did  they  travel  at  a  moderate  rate, 
well  knowing  that  if  the  Lewis  family,  with  their 
confederates,  should  overtake  them  death  would  be 
the  fate  of  the  weaker  party;  nor  did  the  hunters 
tarry  in  the  vicinity,  but  hurried  themselves  far 
away  in  the  western  wilds.  After  Lewis  found  that 
further  resistance  would  be   useless,  he  seemed   to 


Appendix  243 

submit  to  his  fate  and  became  tractable  and  social. 
So  much  so  that  his  bonds  were  somewhat  slackened, 
and  his  captivity  less  strict.  He  awakened  no  sus- 
picion by  asking  them  to  be  less  cautious,  and  seemed 
so  much  more  social  than  they  had  ever  known  him, 
that  his  guards  were  almost  tempted  to  free  him  from 
all  restraint.  One  evening,  while  indulging  their 
glee  around  the  camp-fire,  Lewis,  unobserved,  untied 
his  bonds,  and  springing  up,  darted  off  with  the 
agility  of  a  youth.  Craven  and  Swearengain  pur- 
sued, but  Craven  was,  ere  long,  left  some  distance 
in  the  rear.  They  were  now^  in  a  low  bottom  and 
the  evening  had  so  far  advanced  that  Swearengain, 
who  was  close  in  pursuit,  could  onl}'  see  Lewis  by 
the  whiteness  of  his  clothes.  So  expert  was  Lewis 
in  dodging  that  he  constantly  eluded  the  grasp  of 
his  pursuer,  and  was  now  within  a  few  paces  of  a 
dense  thicket.  Swearengain,  making  a  spring,  struck 
Lewis  with  a  blow  so  effectual  that  it  felled  him  to 
the  earth,  and  before  he  could  regain  his  feet  he  was 
overpowered  b}^  both  of  his  pursuers. 

Lewis  was  finaUy  brought  to  Randolph,  from 
which  county  his  trial  was  moved  to  Guilford,  where 
he  was  finally  tried  and  acquitted.  Most  of  the 
material  witnesses  had  died  or  moved  away,  and 
much  of  the  minutiae  was  forgotten.  After  his  re- 
lease he  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  died  in  a  few 
years  afterwards.  After  all  hopes  of  his  recovery 
were  given  up,  and  his  friends  watched  around  his 


244  Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

couch  only  to  perform  the  last  sad  offices  of  life,  he 
still  lingered.  He  seemed  to  suffer  be5^ond  human 
conception;  the  contortions  of  his  face  were  too 
horrid  for  human  gaze;  his  groans  were  appalling  to 
the  ear.  For  two  days  the  death  rattle  had  been  in 
his  throat,  and  3'et  he  retained  his  reason  and  speech. 
Finally,  he  bid  ever}-  person  leave  the  room  but  his 
father,  and  to  him  he  confessed  all  the  circumstances 
we  have  detailed.  He  declared  that  while  in  prison 
Naomi  was  ever  before  him;  his  sleep  was  broken 
by  her  cries  for  mercy,  and  in  the  dim  twilight  her 
shadow^y  form  was  ever  before  him,  holding  up  her 
imploring  hands.  Thus  ended  the  career  of  Jona- 
than Lewis,  for  no  sooner  was  his  confession  com- 
pleted than  his  soul  seemed  to  hasten  away. 


The  following  is  the  song  so  well  known  in  this 
country  as 

POOR    NAOMI. 

Come,  all  you  good  people,  I'd  have  you  draw  near: 
A  sorrowful  story  you  quickly  shall  hear; 
A  story  I'll  tell  3^ou,  about  N'omi  Wise — 
How  she  was  deluded  by  Lewis'  lies. 

* '  He  promised  to  marry  and  use  me  quite  well ; 
But  conduct  contrary  I  sadly  must  tell. 
He  promised  to  meet  me  at  Adams'  Springs; 
He  promised  me  marriage  and  many  fine  things. 


Appendix.  245 

"Still  nothing  he  gave,  but  3^et  flattered  the  case, 
He  saj^s,  'We'll  be  married  and  have  no  disgrace; 
Come  get  up  behind  me,  we'll  go  up  to  town, 
And  there  we'll  be  married,  in  union  be  bound.' 

*  *  I  got  up  behind  him  and  straightway  did  go 

To  the  banks  of  Deep  river,  where  the  water  did  flow; 
He  says,    '  Now,  Naomi,  I'll  tell  you  my  mind, 
I  intend  here  to  drown  you,  and  leave  you  behind.' 

"  '  O!  pity  your  infant  and  spare  me  my  life; 
Let  me  go,  rejected,  and  not  be  3'our  wife.' 

*  No  pity,  no  pity,'   this  monster  did  cry, 

*  In  Deep  river's  bottom  your  body  shall  lie.'  " 

The  wretch  then  did  choke  her,  as  we  understand, 
And  threw  her  in  the  river,  below  the  milldam. 
Be  it  murder  or  treason,  oh!  what  a  great  crime, 
To  murder  poor  Naomi  and  leave  her  behind. 

Naomi  was  missing,  they  all  did  well  know. 
And  hunting  for  her  to  the  river  did  go; 
And  there  found  her,  floating  on  the  water  so  deep, 
Which  caused  all  the  people  to  sigh  and  to  weep. 

The  neighbors  were  sent  for,  to  see  the  great  sight, 
While  she  la}^  floating  all  that  long  night. 
So  early  next  morning  the  inquest  was  held, 
The  jury  correctly  the  murder  did  tell. 


NoTK. — It  is  said  that  in  the  dusk  of  evening  the 
following  little  song  may  be  heard  about  the  river, 
in  accents  sweet  as  the  voice  of  angels: 


246      Life  of  Braxton  Craven. 

Beneath  these  crystal  waters, 
A  maiden  once  did  lie, 

The  fairest  of  earth's  daughters, 
A  gem  to  deck  the  sk}-. 

In  caves  of  pearled  enamel, 
We  weave  an  amber  shroud 

For  all  the  foolish  damsels, 
That  dare  to  stray  abroad. 

We  live  in  rolling  billows, 
We  float  upon  the  mist. 

We  sing  on  foaming  pillows: 
"  Poor  Naomi  of  the  past." 


On  July  7th,  1879,  Mr.  J.  B.  Randleman  and  the 
present  Naomi  Falls  Company  commenced  building 
a  cotton  factory,  which  to-daj^  stands  as  a  monument 
of  their  energy  and  enterprise.  There  is  now  a  beau- 
tiful town  of  about  500  inhabitants,  and  the  hum  of 
5000  spindles  and  the  clash  of  164  looms  and  the 
voices  of  225  employees  are  heard  within  less  than  200 
yards  of  the  ford  where  the  tragedy,  referred  to  in 
this  book,  was  enacted.  This  place  was  named  in 
honor  of  Naomi,  who  was  buried  on  the  plantation 
upon  which  Calvin  Swim  now  lives,  in  sight  of  Naomi 
Falls  Factor}-.  The  spring  where  Naomi  met  Lewis 
and  mounted  his  horse  on  the  fatal  night,  is  now  used 
to  supply  water  for  the  New  Salem  Steam  Mill  and 
Tannery  Company.  Mr.  J.  N.  Caudle's  barn  now 
stands  about  where  Mr.  Adams'  house  then  stood. 


'C^^^^'-"^^^-^' 


\j/c<^.:>^lkM'. 


-^tt^—^m 


iiMiiniiiiiMiiiuji 


lumiiiiiiniu 


